What types of OTC eye-care products are there?

There are seven types of OTC eye-care products available. Each product contains one or more active and inactive ingredients.

1. Artificial tears: Lubricants--also called artificial tears--are synthetic (man-made), water-based solutions that are used to lubricate the eye and thicken tears. Artificial tears are formulated as solutions or drops. The components in artificial tears that provide the lubrication include cellulose ethers (hydroxymethylcellulose or HPMC), polyvinyl alcohol or PVA, povidone or PVP and retinol solutions (containing vitamin A). Examples of artificial tears include Akwa Tears (drops), Tears Naturale, and Refresh Tears. Artificial tears usually are administered three times daily.

2. Ointments or Emollients: Ointments also are useful lubricants. These products are not water-based and contain lubricating ingredients similar to petroleum jelly. Examples of ointments include DuraTears Naturale, Lacri-Lube, and Refresh PM. Their advantage over a water-based solution containing HPMC, PVA or PVP is that they remain in the eye longer. Emollients usually are used twice a day.

3. Eye washes: Eye washes--also known as ocular irrigants--are used to cleanse and/or rinse debris from the eye. These products are balanced to the proper acidity and electrolyte concentration so as to be non-irritating to the eye. Washes are available as liquids, solutions or drops. These products may contain boric acid with sodium borate, sodium phosphate, or sodium hydroxide to maintain the proper acidity. Examples of washes include AK Rinse, Dacriose, and Eye-Stream.

4. Hyperosmotics: Hyperosmotics are used to treat corneal swelling. Hyperosmotics draw water out of the cornea and thus reduce corneal swelling. Most OTC hyperosmotics contain sodium chloride in various concentrations as either a solution or an ointment. The 2% solution tends to cause less stinging and burning than the 5% solution. An example of a hyperosmotic for corneal swelling is Adsorbon a C.

5. Scrubs: Eyelid scrubs are useful for removing oils, debris, or loose skin that can be associated with eyelid inflammation. Soap agents PEG-200 glycerol tallowate or PEG-80 glycerol cocoate provide the foaming action. An example of this type of product is Eye-Scrub.

6. OTC products may contain lubricants alone or lubricants combined with medications usually as medicated eye drops. The medicated eye drops may contain decongestants or antihistamines.

7. Decongestants: Decongestants are used to shrink swollen blood vessels in the congested (red) eye, for example, in conjunctivitis. Phenylephrine is the most common decongestant for this purpose. Patients with angle-closure glaucoma should cautiously use phenylephrine because it can cause an increase in pressure within the eye. Rebound congestion, in which blood vessels become dilated even with continued use of decongestants, is a common side effect of phenylephrine. Therefore, if no improvement in redness or symptoms occurs within 72 hours of use, phenylephrine should be discontinued. A frequent side effect of phenylephrine is dilation of the pupils. If phenylephrine is absorbed from the eye into the body, an increase in blood pressure may occur, although this is rare. Nevertheless, patients with high blood pressure should be cautious in using phenylephrine. Additionally, if phenylephrine is absorbed, side effects may occur due to interactions with atropine, tricyclic antidepressants (Imipramine) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors such as phenelzine sulfate (Nardil) or tranylcypromine sulfate (Parnate), reserpine (Hydropres), guanethidine (Ismelin), or methyldopa (Aldomet ).

8. A second group of chemical decongestants are the imidazoles (naphazoline, tetrahydrozoline, and oxymetazoline). Imidazoles are longer acting than phenylephrine and have fewer side effects, including rebound congestion. Caution still is recommended with imidazoles because of the potential for an increase in blood pressure. Of the three imidazoles, oxymetazoline generally appears to exhibit the least side effects. Naphazoline may dilate pupils more in persons with lightly pigmented (blue or green) eye.

Source: RefillPill.com Editors' Choice