Therapeutic Implications of Curcumin in the Treatment of Inflammatory Eye Diseases: A Review

Curcumin is the main active constituent of the medicinal plant Curcuma longa L., used traditionally as a medicinal spice in several ancient civilizations. Different preclinical and clinical studies support the anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin in various inflammatory diseases. As inflammation has an essential role in the pathophysiology of many ocular diseases, curcumin has been suggested as a promising therapeutic agent with anti-inflammatory properties. Based on the extent of experimental and clinical evidence, curcumin can exert protective effects against the corneal, uveal, retinal, optic nerve, orbital, and lacrimal gland inflammatory disorders. Herein, the available literature on the beneficial effects of curcumin in inflammatory eye diseases is reviewed. The limitations and future directions of these investigations are also discussed.