EYE HEALTH
FIVE TOP TIPS FOR RECOMMENDING DRY EYE DROPS
AUTHOR - PROFESSOR CHRISTINE PURSLOW, HEAD OF MEDICAL AFFAIRS (UK & IRELAND), THEA PHARMACEUTICALS LTD
There are many products to choose from for alleviating the symptoms of dry eyes – the gritty, sore, tired eyes feeling that at least one in five adults experience every day. Even more of us experience sporadic symptoms when using the computer or wearing contact lenses, for example. For many years, we have adopted a trial and error approach to these products, a sort of ‘try this one and see if it works for you’ style to our recommendations, but scientific advances in understanding the pathophysiology of dry eye disease mean that products are now available that really tackle the root of the problems. This article sets out some basic principles to follow when making recommendations to patients and customers.
1. AVOID PRESERVATIVES
Dry eye disease is an inflammation of the surface of the eye related to a poor quality tear film, so much like managing a sensitive skin condition, the last thing you would include in any treatment would be harsh chemicals like preservative, perfumes or
parabens. Preservatives are commonly found in eye drops but there is now consensus amongst researchers that they should be avoided when drops are being used more than once or twice a day, such as in dry eye or glaucoma management. This does not necessarily mean that the drops have to be more expensive or in single unit dose vials; novel bottle systems exist that allow economical treatments that can be kept for three months after opening without the use of any preservatives. Taking this approach
also means that people who wear contact lenses can use these drops, too, even when wearing the lenses.
2. CHOOSE MODERN INGREDIENTS
The most effective ingredient to look out for in modern eye drops is Hyaluronic Acid or Sodium Hyaluronate. It has several properties that make it an ideal choice for dry eye drops:
• It has a huge capacity to retain
moisture, so is an excellent moisturiser
• It is naturally found in the human body already
• It behaves like the natural tear film, ie, it is viscoelastic under pressure of blinking
• It has some properties that make it slightly adherent to ocular surface cells, giving longer lasting relief from symptoms
Looking for a product where this is the SCOTTISH PHARMACIST - 53
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