Allergic conjunctivitis and moisturizing drops

Allergies affect 20 % of the population worldwide. Roughly 60 % of all allergic patients experience eye symptoms. The most frequent condition is allergic conjunctivitis (seasonal or perennial).

When this occurs, the first recommendation should be to use an eye bath with hyaluronic acid (to remove allergens from the eye) and apply drops offering double hydration (to moisturize the eye and restore the tear balance).

Osmolarity in artificial tears. Something to be considered.

The ideal product to bring relief to dry eyes must, above all, contain a good humectant. But the formula should also take into account other parameters and one of the most important is osmolarity.

Very common causes of eye irritation

Going back to school or the office means we increase the number of hours we spend looking at a computer screen.

And going back to our daily routine means we are also going back to polluted air and closed spaces with dry air.

These two situations, digital eye fatigue and exposure to adverse environmental conditions, mean that at this time of year there is an increase in cases of eye irritation.

Levels of dry eye

Dry eye is a disease that affects millions of people all over the world.

In its mildest form, it is often associated with adverse environmental circumstances and with digital eye fatigue caused by spending long periods reading on a computer, tablet or mobile phone screen. This can reduce the frequency of blinking and, consequently, can also reduce tear film renewal. Since the consumption of information via screens is increasing constantly among people of all ages, the number of people with this disorder is growing fast.

In its most severe form, dry eye can be very limiting for those who suffer from it, and can seriously affect their quality of life.

The importance of the concentration of hyaluronic acid in humectant drops

If we consider that hyaluronic acid is one of the best humectants that exist, we might reach the conclusion that the greater the hyaluronic acid content in humectant drops, the better the results will be.

This is only partly true, because a higher concentration of hyaluronic acid may make the formula too viscous and result in discomfort. It is therefore very important to find the right balance between the concentration and other variables, such as the molecular weight of the hyaluronic acid.

The importance of the molecular weight of the hyaluronic acid in humectant eye drops

Hyaluronic acid is present in the human body (especially in skin, joints and the eye), in some animals (such as rabbits and bovines) and in some bacteria and algae. But it is not found in fungi, plants or insects.

Even though it is extensively present in nature, it is an outstanding substance that has been used for years in the production of humectant drops for treating dry eye.

Not all hyaluronic acids are the same because certain characteristics such as molecular weight or purity determine many of their properties. Concentration also plays a very important role and affects the end result of the product.

A viscous artificial tear stays in
the eye longer

The more viscous a tear is, the longer it stays in the eye. This is an advantage for people with acute, long-term symptoms of dry eye, such as itching, stinging, blurred vision, watery eyes.

More viscous drops are often uncomfortable to use because they result in blurred vision, so they are usually used at night-time.

The challenge of producing drops for dry eye is to obtain a viscous substance that is easy to apply and does not produce blurred vision. It should result in a pleasant sensation and should be usable both at night and during the day.

Hyaluronic acid, the substance
everyone’s talking about

Hyaluronic acid has become very popular and is often perceived as some sort of magic substance to be found in products of all types.

This is not just the result of marketing.

It is a very well-known humectant that is highly valued by scientists and has outstanding qualities for eye care.

Double moisturization to
soothe dry eyes

Dry eye is a condition that affects a significant portion of the population and 50% of cases are not diagnosed.

In the mildest cases, patients tend to put up with the discomfort, unaware that there are very useful remedies affording instant relief. In the most severe cases, it can be a highly limiting disease.

The latest TFOS DEWS report published in 2017 explained the various options available on the market to treat this pathology and one of the most interesting proposals involves combining two wetting agents to formulate an artificial tear that can ease the symptoms of patients with dry eye.