A Critical Appraisal of the Physicochemical Properties and Biological Effects of Artificial Tear Ingredients and Formulations

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 24; no. 3; p. 2758
• Main Authors: Weng, Judy, Fink, Michael K, Sharma, Ajay
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.02.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: artificial tears; Biological effects; Biological properties; Cellulose; CMC; Cornea; dry eye; Dry Eye Syndromes - drug therapy; Exocrine glands; Eye care products; Eye diseases; Formulations; Homeostasis; Humans; Hydration; hypromellose; Inflammation; Ingredients; Lubricant Eye Drops - pharmacology; Lubricant Eye Drops - therapeutic use; Lubricants & lubrication; Nanoemulsions; Ophthalmic Solutions - pharmacology; Ophthalmic Solutions - therapeutic use; osmoprotectants; Pharmaceutical Vehicles; Physicochemical properties; Polyethylene glycol; polyols; Preservatives; Review; Tears; Viscosity; United States > US; preservatives; hydroxypropyl guar gum; osmoprotectants; polyols; CMC; hypromellose; dry eye; artificial tears; hyaluronic acid
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032758

Dry eye disease is among the most prevalent diseases affecting the ocular surface. Artificial tears remain the cornerstone therapy for its management. There are currently a wide variety of marketed artificial tears available to choose from. These artificial tears differ significantly in their composition and formulation. This article reviews the physicochemical and biological properties of artificial tear components and how these characteristics determine their use and efficacy in the management of dry eye. Furthermore, this article also discusses the various formulations of artificial tears such as macro and nanoemulsion and the type of preservatives present in them.