Polyphenols and Eye Health: A Narrative Review of the Literature on the Therapeutic Effects for Ocular Diseases

The worldwide burden of visual impairment is mostly attributed to ocular diseases, which include alterations of the retina, optic nerve, cornea, and ocular surface. Despite advances in medicine, the prevention and management of these conditions remain challenging, driving ongoing research into novel bioactive compounds. Among these, polyphenols-an assorted group of plant-derived compounds abundant in the human diet-have attracted significant attention due to their potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. Increasing evidence suggests that polyphenols may help counteract oxidative stress and modulate pathways involved in ocular pathologies, assisting the conventional therapeutic strategies. This narrative review aims to analyze the current evidence about the potential therapeutic effects of the main polyphenols (e.g., curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate) currently recognized for the management of ocular diseases.