Artificial Tears: The Quick Fix for Your Dry Eye Problems!
Artificial Tears: The Quick Fix for Your Dry Eye Problems!
19 August 2024

Artificial tears come in different formulations as a known cure for dry eye syndrome. Whatever the case for symptomatic relief, artificial tears can be used to lubricate the eyes and alleviate dryness.

Dry eyes feel like our eyes are in a tempest of discomfort, with an attack of invisible darts, all raw but dense. Our eyes can toss the waves of never-ending itching, feeling sore and sensitive.

Allergies, air pollution, asthma medication, and spending more time on digital screens than suggested can be the nemeses. A regular desk job that can enhance energy the way you like makes your eyes suffer when you can’t say no anymore.

Normal medications such as antihistamines, asthma inhalers, or birth control pills can also trigger dry eyes. There are many causes, to be precise but the most common are dryness after cataract surgery and infected contact lens use.

Different Types of Dry Eye Problems

Remember a time when your eyes were all dried up, and your eyeballs were gritting even when you tried to blink? Aside from healthy eyes, there are different types of dry eye problems, including over-tearing, under-tearing, and poor tear quality.

1. Dry eye syndrome

Dry eye syndrome is characterized by irritation, decreased lacrimation, burning pain, scratchy sensations, and excessive redness. It sometimes has a non-specific diagnosis without a clear underlying cause. But mostly, lacrimal gland dysfunction and quick tear evaporation (drying) can lead to dry eye symptoms.

2. Xerophthalmia

Xerophthalmia is a severe case of dry eye that occurs when our body does not get enough vitamin A. It can make it hard to see at night, with symptoms of decreased tear secretion, ocular dryness, and night blindness. Vitamin A deficiency can also cause weird spots on the eye called Bitot’s spots and corneal xerosis.

3. Tear film insufficiency

Tear film insufficiency is caused in eyelids when there is a lack of oils, water, and mucus. If the oil glands in your eyelids (the meibomian glands), tear glands (the lacrimal glands), and mucus layer are thin, such a symptom is seen.

Types of Artificial Tears

Types of Artifical Tear Drops

Types of Artificial Tear Drops

1. Artificial Tears with Liposomes

Liposomes contain sodium hyaluronate, which helps to retain moisture. These artificial tears are beneficial for patients with evaporative dry eye disease. Liposomal formulations help stabilize the tear film and reduce evaporation. Higher concentrations of liposomes are especially effective. Some of the recommended liposomal artificial tears are.

  • Tear again
  • Systane balance
  • Refresh Optive Advanced
  • Optive Fusion
  • Hylo-Forte

After one month of regular use, artificial tear-containing liposomes used four times a day can treat observable signs of dry eyes. Patients may face temporary blurred vision or eye discomfort if used, but this mild stinging dryness.

Rash, swelling, or severe itching can be allergic reactions. Look to see if it suits you or not upon continuing use.

Pharmaceutical compounds of Artificial Tears

2. Artificial Tears with Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Formulation

Polyethylene glycol is an emulsification agent with a low toxicity profile. Its low absorption rate of less than 0/5% is best for making artificial tears and variations of medicines. It has a biocompatible nature and quickly oxidizes into carboxylic acid, making it easy to use in artificial tears. The molecules include:

  • Polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG-400)
  • Polyethylene glycol 8 (PEG-8)

PEG is a top choice in comparison to other ocular lubricant components like carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) for symptom relief.

Artificial tears that use PEG for Symptom Relief

Artificial tear products Symptom Relief
Blink Tears Quick relief of inflammation and irritation with a mimic of the natural tear film
Colirio Ocusan Effective and long-lasting relief with formulated hyaluronic acid
QC ultra lubricant eye Long-lasting lubrication is safe to use with a good tolerance formula
Systane tear lubricant User-friendly moisture retention and lubrication formula for occasional dryness
Visine Dry Eye Relief Ketotifen fumarate infused to reduce excessive eye redness and irritation with dry eyes

3. Trehalose-Containing Drops

Trehalose is a disaccharide used in artificial tear formulation to create a protective tear film and restore osmotic balance with enough tears in one’s eye. Products like TheraTears include trehalose, which has the dual benefits of lubrication and protection. Such eye drops prevent desiccation in conjunctival cells and retain healthy-looking, moist eyes.

4. Preservative-Free Artificial tears

Artificial tear brands like Systane have preservative-free artificial lubricating properties. It makes it safe to use multiple times a day and has longer-lasting effects.

Formulations of Artificial Tears

The formulation of the new artificial tear intends to closely resemble the natural tear film made up of both lipid (fat) and aqueous (water) layers. The primary goal is to prevent tear evaporation and restore one’s ability to maintain hydration within the aqueous layer. We talk about different formulations that enhance vision comfort and effectiveness for people suffering from dry eye disease.

1. Octaethylene glycol in artificial tears and dry eye treatment

Octaethylene glycol is used for its moisturizing properties in the formation of artificial tears, though it is not quite common. It increases the viscosity of aqueous solutions, making artificial tears more quickly fixed and maintaining the overall thickness.

Higher viscosity means more moisturization due to improved retention. It is found in the optimal range of from 0.5% to 2% in artificial tears that work like magic in our eyes for enhanced comfort within seconds.

Product Type Use
Carbomer homopolymer type C Medication Artificial tears for dry eyes
Carboxymethylcellulose Compound Ophthalmic lubricant
Chamomile Plant extract OTC product (not approved drug) sometimes eye treatment

2. Role of Polysorbate 80 in Artificial Tears

Mucus and oil in our eyes blend seamlessly, but when you add an artificial item, they may separate time and again. Polysorbate 80 prevents such separation in artificial eye drops, with its emulsification and stable formulation. On top of that, it helps to retain moisture on the ocular surface.

3. Role of phosphatidylcholine in artificial tears

An active combination of cholesterol and vitamin E helps the creation of nano-liposomes, an artificial tear lipid layer. Phosphatidylcholine is a major component that mimics the lipid layer of natural tears, consisting of 40% of the total polar lipids. It acts as a barrier to prevent tear evaporation and enhance tear film stability and surface tension.

4. Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Formulations

Hyaluronic acid is a natural lubricant that has in vitro performance to bind ocular surface cells and heal dry eye symptoms. Products like Refresh and Systane are HA-formulated eye drops for quick recovery.

Key Features of the New Artificial Tear Formulation Liposomes

Liposomes have nano-phosphatidylcholine, a type of amphiphilic (Fat) molecule that includes sodium hyaluronate that sticks to the eye surface. Liposome size, zeta potential, and physicochemical properties are key to notice.

1. Size and Stability

The average size of the liposomes is about 186 nanometers, which is suitable for effective delivery. The formulation remains stable when stored, maintaining its properties for up to eight weeks.

2. Safety and Tolerance

Tests on human eye cells showed that the liposome formulation is safe, with over 80% cell viability even after storage. In animal studies (rabbits), there were no signs of discomfort or irritation after using the new artificial tears.

3. Better than traditional artificial tears

Studies show liposomal artificial tears have excellent tolerability, with over 80% cell viability in vitro tests even after storage for 8 weeks. Also, without any signs of discomfort or irritation after instillation.

Compared to traditional artificial tears, those with liposome gas lipids similar to eye film reduce tear film evaporation and keep it lubricated for longer with bioadhesive agents like sodium hyaluronate. It increases the residence time of the artificial tears on the ocular surface of the eyes.

4. Affordable rates

One can buy Herein, a liposome-based permeable eyedrop (pDrops), and Allergan’s Refresh Mega-3 at affordable rates. In Nepal as well, you can get lipid-based artificial tears at nearby drug stores or clinics.

7 Tips to Use Artificial Tear Effectively

  • Artificial tears are not for sharing purposes; use your tear bottle.
  • Even if the teardrops are present, change your bottle every month or two after opening the seal, as advised by the manufacturer.
  • Keep the cap tight to prevent evaporation of artificial teardrop.
  • Avoid touching your eyes with the tip of the bottle when instilling teardrops
  • Wash your hands before using the tear solution in your eyes.
  • Be aware of the expiration date before using the drops.
  • Store the teardrop bottle away from direct sunlight and moisture.

Conclusion

Satiate the thirst of dry eyes with artificial tears. Say no more to dry eyes and that itch. Artificial tear drops, gels, and ointments are easy to use in all their forms. For a quick fix of blurry vision, artificial tears can thicken your lipid layer and best work both for prescription and regular use. Contact Vision Concern Clinic if your eyes show any signs of allergy, pain, or irritation upon the use of artificial tears.