I thought sodium hyaluronate was a good ingredient for dry eyes?

[Vicki In Oregon]

http://bjo.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/90/3/285

I am confused now.

[neil0502]

Sodium Hyaluronate isn't the problem here

The phosphates used to buffer that (old, and since revised) formulation of that particular eyedrop--Hylo-Comod--caused the problem, NOT the Sodium Hyaluronate.

[Vicki In Oregon]

Thanks Neil. Is the Aquify drop okay to use? I saw it at the store but it did not say on it the preservative was the kind that disappears or turns to water/oxygen whatever it was when it touches the eye yet i read that here. How do we know what phosphates are okay? I see them listed all the time.

[neil0502]

Thanks Neil. Is the Aquify drop okay to use? I saw it at the store but it did not say on it the preservative was the kind that disappears or turns to water/oxygen whatever it was when it touches the eye yet i read that here. How do we know what phosphates are okay? I see them listed all the time.

Vicki-

The phosphate is not used as a preservative. It is used as a buffer to give the product its proper Ph. The article that you posted--which I also posted a while back--says the following:

A 50-fold higher concentration of phosphate was measured in the sodium hyaluronate eye drops used for treatment (50.9 mmol/l) when compared with normal serum. The other hyaluronate formulations showed phosphate concentrations from <0.1 mmol/l to 10.9 mmol/l.

I have NO idea WHICH HA-containing drops they tested and which they did not. The quote above IMPLIES that the Hylo-comod was unusual in the amount of phosphate buffer that IT contained. I do note, however, that the package insert for Aquify [1] specifies that Aquify drops should be used "up to 3-4 times daily."

If you wanted to e-mail Aquify's manufacturer, they may be able to tell you the actual concentration of phosphates in the Aquify drop [2].

I would WHOLEHEARTEDLY advise that you thoroughly discuss with your physician any and all treatments that YOU intend to try BEFORE trying them.
--
[1] http://procare.cibavision.com/pdf/lc...y_Drops_US.pdf
[2] http://www.us.cibavision.com/contact_us.shtml

Keywords: phosphate buffer - corneal opacification - aquify