You wake up with dry, gritty eyes. Or you're over 50 and struggling to read menus. You're not alone — WHO says 2.2 billion people worldwide have vision impairment. The ophthalmic drugs market report by MRFR shows that anti‑inflammatory drugs are the largest drug class, but dry eye is the fastest‑growing application. The market is $37.4 billion and will hit $73.41 billion by 2035, growing at 6.32% CAGR.

What's driving growth? Eye drops are the largest formulation type — they're easy to use and cheap. But injectables (intravitreal) are the fastest‑growing, because they deliver high drug concentrations directly to the back of the eye for conditions like macular degeneration. The ophthalmic drugs market analysis highlights that topical administration is still the largest route, but intravitreal is growing fastest — especially with the rise of anti‑VEGF drugs (Eylea, Lucentis).

What's new? Sustained‑release implants that last 6‑12 months, eliminating monthly injections. And gene therapies for inherited retinal diseases — one‑time treatments that could stop blindness.

The bottom line: if you have an eye condition, there are more options than ever. See an ophthalmologist, not just an optometrist. And don't ignore dry eye — it's not trivial.