Abstract

Delivery of medication to the human eye is an integral part of medical treatment. The delivery of drug to the site of action has been practiced since ancient times, which successively advanced in a variety of ophthalmic dosage forms. The writings pertaining to eye medications have been found on Egyptian papyri. Between 20 BC and AD 50, Greeks and Romans practiced the delivery of the necessary components of eye medication by dissolving them in water, milk or egg white (1). They used the term collyria for such preparations. The term belladonna or “beautiful lady” evolved during the middle ages from such collyria, which contained components to dilate the pupils of a lady’s eyes for cosmetic purpose (2). The collyria gave rise to the birth of modern-day eye drop solutions.