Nanomedicine is a novel and emerging field that has noted significant progress in both the fields of ophthalmology and cancer treatment. Expanding into ocular oncology, it holds the potential to overcome the limitations of conventional therapies, such as poor drug penetration due to anatomical and physiological ocular barriers and insufficient targeting, which can lead to collateral damage to healthy tissues. By reviewing a series of clinical and preclinical studies, we aim to outline the recent advancements, current trends and future perspectives in nanomedicine for ocular cancer treatment. Beyond improving the existing therapies, like chemotherapy, phototherapies and brachytherapy, nanomedicine enables multimodal applications by combining multiple treatments or integrating imaging for theranostic approaches. Additionally, it paves the way for experimental therapies, such as gene therapy, offering new possibilities for more effective and less invasive treatment strategies in ocular oncology.

The management of ocular conditions, including cancer, is hindered by anatomical and physiological ocular barriers. Chemotherapy is limited by sub-optimal drug delivery, and similarly to other conventional treatments such photothermal therapies and radiotherapy, can often cause collateral damage to healthy tissues. Nanomedicine-based approaches have transformed the field of ophthalmology, and their application can be potentially extended to ocular oncology. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to analyze advancements in nanoparticle-based therapies for ocular cancers, mainly retinoblastoma and uveal melanoma. A series of preclinical and clinical studies are presented, where organic and inorganic nanoparticles have been used to enhance traditional therapies through improved drug bioavailability, targeted delivery, and multimodal applications. Nanomedicine-based approaches have emerged as a transformative solution for ocular cancer management.