Tears, artificial

The lubricating properties of tears are an important feature in normal blinking. Kalachandra and Shah measured the coefficient of friction of ophthalmic solutions (artificial tears) on polymer surfaces and found no correlation with viscosity, surface tension or contact angle [58]. The coefficient of friction appears to depend on the structure of the polymer surfaces and decreases with increasing load and sliding speed. 

Artificial tears are contraindicated in patients who are allergic to any component of the solution. No precautions or interactions have been reported. 

Patients may obtain symptomatic relief by using cold compresses and artificial tears.10 If artificial tear solutions sting, recommend a preservative-free formula. 

If artificial tears are insufficient, the second treatment step is a topical antihistamine or antihistamine/decongestant combination. The antihistamine/decongestant combination is more effective than either agent is alone. Decongestants are vasoconstrictors that reduce redness and seem to have a small synergistic effect with the antihistamine. The only topical... 

Regardless of the cause, the mainstay of treatment for dry eye is artificial tears. Artificial tears augment the tear film topically and provide relief. If a patient uses artificial tears more than four times daily, recommend a preservative-free formulation. Preservative-free formulations are also appropriate if the patient develops an allergy to ophthalmic preservatives. Artificial tears are available in gel, ointment, and emulsion forms that provide a longer duration of relief and may allow for less frequent instillation. Ointment use is appropriate at bedtime.30... 

Anti-inflammatory agents may be used in conjunction with artificial tears. The only approved agent is cyclosporine emulsion. Administered topically, it is thought to act as a partial immuno-modulator suppressing ocular inflammation, but the exact mechanism is unknown. Cyclosporine emulsion increases tear production in some patients. Fifteen minutes should elapse after instillation of cyclosporine before artificial tears are instilled.31 Use of topical corticosteroids for short periods (e.g., 2 weeks) may suppress inflammation and ocular irritation symptoms. No topical corticosteroid is approved for this indication, however.30... 

The carbomer polymeric gel base itself has been used successfully to treat moderate to severe cases of dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca) [282]. The dry eye syndrome is usually characterized by deficiency of tear production and, therefore, requires frequent instillation of aqueous artificial tear eyedrops to keep the corneal epithelium moist. The gel base applied in a small amount provides a prolonged lubrication to the external ocular tissues, and some patients have reduced the frequency of dosing to control their symptoms to three times a day or fewer. 

An erodible insert developed as a potential ocular drug-delivery system is marketed as a prescription drug for the lubricant properties of the polymer base. Lacrisert is a sterile ophthalmic insert used in the treatment of moderate to severe dry eye syndrome and is usually recommended for patients unable to obtain symptomatic relief with artificial tear solutions. The insert is composed of 5 mg of hydroxypropylcellulose in a rod-shaped form about 1.27 mm diameter by about 3.5 mm long. No preservative is used, since it is essentially anhydrous. The quite rigid cellulose rod is placed in the lower conjunctival sac and first imbibes water from the tears and after several hours forms a... 

ARTIFICIAL TEARS SOLUTEON 15ML BOTTLE WITH OPHTHALMIC TIP 6505010156456 BT 1.86 ... 

Artificial Tears (Tears Naturale) [OTC] [Ocular Lubricant]... 

The demonstration of the potential of this stable and obviously excellently tolerated compound has inspired a great number of scientists to develop PFCLs as special tools for medical applications and to introduce therapies using the outstanding behaviours of PFCLs, like the well-known concepts of complete and partial liquid ventilation [4], oxygen support of the skin, wound treatment [5], artificial tears [6], and ocular endotamponade media [1], to name only a few. Until now, the mouse submersed in PFCLs is often used as an eye-catcher for the demonstration of the biocompatibility of PFCLs even in cases where the topic of the presentation is not reflected by this experiment. 

Ophth product may be used with artificial tears—allow 15-min interval between products... 

Secondary effects of irrigation fluids ex vivo eye irritation assay with four scratches on the cornea, incubated for 2 days and treated with artificial tears containing CaCl in 0.13 mmol/L concentration each 24 drops per day with 30 min of interval between phosphate and tear application. Second image is taken after 2 days with obvious comeal calcification. 

Bemauer, W., Thiel, M.A., Kurrer, M., Heftigenhaus, A., Rentsch, KM., Schmitt, A., Heinz, C., Yanar, A Comeal calcification following intensified treatment with sodium hyaluronate artificial tears. Br J Ophthalmol 90(3), 285-288 (2006)... 

This product contains no less than 19% and no more than 30% methoxy groups and no less than 3 % and no more than 12 % hydroxypropyl residues. It occurs as a white fibrous granular powder. Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose is employed as a suspending or a thickening agent and tablet excipient. Solutions of this hydrophilic polymer are used as topical protectants or as artificial tears for contact lenses. 

As one can appreciate, deciding what a drug is, or is not, can become an exercise as complicated as one wishes. For example, are salt water, sugar water, synthetic saliva (there is such a product—Salivart ), artificial tears, placebos, or tetrodotoxin drugs However, with this official orientation behind us, we may now proceed to investigate the world(s) of drugs and their diverse influences on the human experience. 

PVA can lower the surface tension of water, reduce interfacial tension at an oil/water interface and enhance tear film stability. These together with ease of sterilization, compatibility with a range of ophthalmic dmgs and an apparent lack of epithelial toxicity have led to the widespread use of PVA as a drag delivery vehicle and a component of artificial tear preparations. 

Lopez BD, Ubels JL (1991) Quantitative evaluation of the corneal epithelial barrier effect of artificial tears and preservatives. Curr Eye Res 10(7) 645-656 Rein M (2003) The ocular surface barrier function and mechanisms of injury and repair. In Salem H, Katz S (eds) Alternative Toxicological Methods. CRC Press, New York, pp 89-108... 

The sustained release of artificial tears has been achieved by a hydroxypropylcel-lulose polymer insert [77], However, the best known application of diffusional therapy in the eye, Ocusert-Pilo, as shown in Figure 7, is a relatively simple structure with two rate-controlling membranes surrounding the drug reservoir containing... 

Mucoadhesive polymers increase the contact time of a formulation with the tear film and simulate the continuous delivery of tears due to a high water-restraining capacity. As such, they allow a decrease in the instillation frequency compared to common eye drops and are therefore useful as artificial tear products [1,197,198],... 

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