Use of drops and jets for front-of-the-eye drug delivery

In this talk, we will present results from experimental work on fluid delivery to the eye, targeted toward ophthalmic drug delivery. It is known that front-of-the-eye (FOTE) delivery using standard "dropper bottles" are very inefficient due to incorrect usage, the blink reflex, and fast drainage via the nasolacrimal duct. To circumvent these issues, it has been proposed that smaller, single droplets of polymeric solution (to increase viscosity and adhesion) may improve outcomes in terms of bioavailability. Therefore, we have explored the dynamics of droplet impact on acrylic eyeball targets, which can be dry or pre-wetted with a solution of artificial tears. Here, we will summarize those findings, along with an interesting observation of non-coalescence. We also investigate the use of discrete pulsed jets as a novel method of delivery.