ALL YOU NEED IN DRY EYE

brought to you by Eye2Eye:

The Tear Film:

The tear film is a layer of watery liquid that bathes the front portion of the eye. It is made up of three layers

• An inner mucin layer.
• A middle watery layer.
• An outer oily layer.

The mucin layer ensures the eye has a smooth surface, the watery layer moistens and nourishes the ocular surface and the lipid layer reduces evaporation of the watery layer. As well as moistening and lubricating the surface of the eye and providing nutrients and oxygen for the cornea and conjunctiva, the tear film alsohelps protect against infection. It is able to wash away foreign bodies and contains substances that defend against invading bacteria and viruses, eglyzozyme and antibodies.

OSD:

Damage to the cells of the occular surface produces irritation, pain and general feeling of discomfort around the eyes. In rare cases, OSD can even be sight threatening.

Artificial Lubricants:

Artificial lubricants (tear sustitutes) which either replace or supplement natural moisture in the eye are the mainstay of therapy for OSD.

Drops:

Drops are by far the most widely used lubricants. polyvinyl alcohol has good adhesive and wetting properties, supplements deficiencies in the aqueous,mucin or lipid layers of the rear film and stabilises the tear film.

• Try Allergans Liquifilm Tears
• Try Allergan's Tears Plus / Refresh

Gels:

Gels are intermediate in viscosity between drops and ointments. Their ocularretention time is therefore also intermediate between the two and like ointment, they may cause some blurring of vision. Unlike other celluloses which are electrically neutral, carboxymethylcellulose is anionic and therefore closely mimics the natural mucin.Lactated Ringer's solution is incorporated into Celluvise' lubricant ophthalmic solution to promote ocular health - no other lubricant contains this nutritional support.

Ointments:

Ointments are semi-solid preparations consisting largely of a petroleum-mineral oil base. Lacri-LubeR sterile ophthalmic ointment mimics the activity of the natural lipid layer of the tear film. When applied Lacri-LubeR has a firm consistency but it melts at body temperature to form a film which spreads overthe ocular surface.Like the natural lipid layer, Lacri-LubeRis thus able to reduce evapouration from the aqueous layer.

• Lacri-LubeR is now preservative - free
• Try Allergans Refresh