ARTIFICIAL TEAR PRODUCTS; OCULAR LUBRICANTS

Indications/Pharmacology

Artificial tear solutions are aqueous isotonic, pH buffered viscous solutionsthat serve as a lubricant for dry eyes and associated eye irritation due to dry eye syndromes. They areoften useful adjuncts in keratoconjunctivitis sicca in dogs early in cyclosporine therapy.
Ocular lubricants are white petrolatum-based products that serve to lubricate and protect eyes. They areparticularly useful during anesthetic procedures where animals' eyes may remain open and during whichtime tear production is dramatically reduced.Dosage Forms/Preparations/FDA Approval Status - Veterinary-Approved Products: None

Human-Approved Products:

There are a plethora of products available with a variety of formulations and trade names. All are
OTC. Some commonly known products include:Artificial Tear Products (Methylcellulose-based): Adsorbotear® (Alcon); Comfort Tears® (Pilkington Barnes Hind); Isopto-Tears®(Alcon); Tears Naturale® (Alcon); Lacril® (Allergan)
Artificial Tear Products (Polyvinyl Alcohol-based): Hypotears® (Iolab); Liquifilm Tears(Allergan); Tears Plus® (Allergan)
Artificial Tear Products (Glycerin-based): Dry Eye Therapy® (Bausch & Lomb); Eye Lube A(Optopics)
Ocular Lubricants (Petrolatum-based): Lacri-Lube® S.O.P. (Allergan); Akwa Tears® (Akorn)