ANSWERED on Fri 18 Dec 2009 - 10:15 pm UTC by mathtalk
Question: Can we buy these eyedrops--anywhere?
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Asked by sherlock on Mon 14 Dec 2009 - 12:25 am UTC:
Hyaluronic acid eyedrops are widely used in Scandinavia [and maybe Canada] for "Dry Eye Syndrome"; but in USA it seems that these are only prescribed routinely after eye surgery. We need to obtain eyedrops containing 0.15% or 0.20% hyaluronic acid -- with NO preservatives. So far we've heard of just 3 over-the counter products with contents that seem to include hyaluronic acid: 1. "Zilk eye" reportedly contains 0.2% hyaluronic acid and may be available in Germany or Sweden, but not here; 2."Ocutears", once reported to have 0.15% hyaluronic, but the only one we can find has a diifferent formula; and 3."Comfort Shield" drops with 0.15% hyaluronic sounds most effective but we've only seen it offered as eye wipes, We hope you can find these or similar products--with information on where and how to buy them. Thanks!
Request for clarification by Researcher easterangel on Mon 14 Dec 2009 - 2:07 am UTC:
Hi sherlock! Would any brand of dry eye drops be ok with you? Regards!
Question clarification by sherlock on Mon 14 Dec 2009 - 6:14 pm UTC:
Brand is unimportant--but must contain at least 0.15% hyaluronic acid and NO preservatives.(The latter are typically included in the list of "inactive ingredients".)
Request for clarification by Researcher easterangel on Wed 16 Dec 2009 - 12:59 am UTC:
Hi again, I emailed a drug company that manufactures the kind of product you need and can be bought in the United States. The problem is that they would not disclose the hyaluronic acid content since they said it is proprietary. Will this do even without the information for the percentage of hyaluronic acid? Regards!
Question clarification by sherlock on Wed 16 Dec 2009 - 2:37 am UTC:
No, I'm sorry. If the hyaluronic acid is the ACTIVE ingredient hey must list the concentration. If it's listed as "INACTIVE" then it may be present in insignificant amounts. I must say that the answers to both of your requests for clarification could be found in my original question as it was posed. P.S. I do wish to add [only] one restriction on which brands and countries-of-origin are OK with us: we don't want a product made in China. Thanks for your efforts.
Request for clarification by Researcher mathtalk on Fri 18 Dec 2009 - 3:42 pm UTC:
Hi, sherlock: Would a preservative-free aqueous solution containing sodium hyaluronate rather than hyaluronic acid fulfill your requirements? In other words can the solution contain the salt form instead of the acid form of this compound? regards, mathtalk
Question clarification by sherlock on Fri 18 Dec 2009 - 4:57 pm UTC:
I hadn't heard of that, but it sounds promising. Is there any indication of the effective concentration of hyaluronate or hyaluronic acid in this product? Are there other ingredients listed? Thanks for your sleuthing!
Answer by Researcher mathtalk on Fri 18 Dec 2009 - 10:15 pm UTC:
Although marketed as a contact rewetting solution, this product from Abbott Medical Optics Inc. (AMO) seems to closely meet your requirements: [blink Contacts Lubricant Eye Drops -- AMO] http://www.amo-inc.com/products/corneal/contact-lens-lubricating-and-rewetting-eye-drops/blink-contacts-lubricant-eye-drops It contains 0.15% sodium hyaluronate (by weight), a preservative OcuPure (stabilized oxychloro complex, SOC), electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride), and buffers (boric acid, sodium borate decahydrate). Once instilled into eyes OcuPure (SOC) is considered a "disappearing preservative" because on exposure to light it breaks down into water and sodium chloride, which of course are already copiously present in natural tears. [blink Contacts Lubricating Eye Drops] http://www.amo-inc.com/si.php?product-id=17&button-id=1&action=print "Description: Blink Contacts® Lubricating Eye Drops is a sterile, buffered, isotonic, preserved solution. This aqueous formulation includes purified water, sodium hyaluronate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, boric acid and is preserved with OcuPure® preservative (stabilized oxychloro complex 0.005%). This preparation contains no chlorhexidine, no thimerosal and no other mercury containing ingredients." [Note that AMO was formerly Advanced Medical Optics, now Abbott Medical Optics Inc. following an acquistion by Abbott Laboratories in Feb. 2009.] Product availability in the United States and elsewhere ======================================================= It appeared to me from the original question that neither Europe nor Canada is the location where availability is required. I will focus on source in the United States, but ask for clarification if further sources are needed. Prices shown below are typical and exclude extremes above and below this range. It seems likely the product will be locally available at drugstore retailers and possibly others: [AMO Blink Contacts Lubricant Eye Drops -- drugstore.com] http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=89049&catid=60009&aid=337953 0.3 fl oz (10 ml) for $7.79 [Amo Blink Contacts Lubricant Eye Drops -- Walmart] http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10418359 0.3 fl oz for $6.78 (prices in stores may vary) [Blink Contacts (10 ml.) -- AC Lens] http://www.aclens.com/display-product.asp?MID=70&ID=9017&CAWELAID=442053496 10 ml. for $7.95 Just to illustrate the product's availability elsewhere: [Blink Contacts Eye Drops -- Net Optical Australia] http://www.netoptical.com.au/catalog/product_reviews.php?currency=GBP&name=Blink%20Contacts%20Eye%20Drops%2010ml&products_id=1262 Blink Contacts Eye Drops 10ml for £6.70 Background on opthalmic use of hyaluronic acid ============================================== A discussion of opthalmic products containing hyaluronic acid (HA), including their use of preservatives, is here: [Chemical Properties of Contact Lens Rewetters] http://www.clspectrum.com/article.aspx?article=13005 "A review of hyaluronic acid as a contemporary ingredient in contact lens rewetters. By Loretta B. Szczotka-Flynn, OD, MS, FAAO" "Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally-occurring, high-molecular-weight, viscoelastic component of synovial joints, extracellular matrix, vitreous humor, aqueous humor and skin. Because of its viscoelastic properties, HA can function as a shock-absorbing fluid in joints and as an ocular lubricant. HA is an efficacious therapeutic agent for dry eyes. Mengher et al (1986) demonstrated that a concentration of 0.1% sodium hyaluronate in preservative-free eye drops can increase tear film stability and alleviate dry eye symptoms, and concentrations of 0.1% and 0.3% can delay TBUT. Manufacturers have recently incorporated HA as a comfort ingredient into the newest line-up of rewetter drops in the eyecare market: Aquify comfort drops, containing 0.1% HA, and blink Contacts eye drops, containing 0.15% HA." A broader discussion of artificial tears/dry eyes treatments is here: [Artificial Tears: Too Many Choices...] http://www.agingeye.net/dryeyes/dryeyesdrugtreatment.php in which blink Contacts is listed under the Contact Lens Rewetting Drops. As an active ingredient hyaluronate is consider a "hydrogel", that is a polymer which retains moisture. In addition hyaluronic acid has been shown to promote healing of the corneal epithelium. regards, mathtalk
Answer clarification by Researcher mathtalk on Tue 12 Jan 2010 - 2:54 pm UTC:
Off-topic but I was intrigued to see hyaluronic acid playing a role in this story about wrinkly dogs: [Shar-pei wrinkles explained by dog geneticists -- BBC News] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8453794.stm regards, mathtalk
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