Artificial tear replacement solution
AssigneeBausch & Lomb Incorporated
InventorsDirk-Henning Menz, Joachim Dresp, Martin Winter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tear replacement solution that contains at least one water-soluble fluorosurfactant, water and a non-polar component, preferably in gel form, and a method for the external treatment for the eye of an mammal by applying the tear replacement solution to the eye, preferably by placing in the conjunctival sac.
Claims14
Method for the treatment of an eye of a mammal, the eye having a conjunctival sac comprising the steps of:
- a. preparing a sterile polyaphron gel comprising at least one water-soluble fluorinated surfactant in a concentration lower than critical micellae formation, water and one homopolar component in an amount greater than 60% by weight selected from the group consisting of partially fluorinated fluorocarbon compounds of the general formula RFRH, RFRHRF, fluorocarbon oligomers of the type (RF)XRH, silicone oil, and mixtures thereof;
- b. introducing the sterile polyaphron gel into the conjunctival sac of the eye to form a gel-like reservoir whereupon at each blink of the eye, a portion of the sterile polyaphron gel irreversibly liquefies under the effect of the shear forces caused by the blink, extrudes from the conjunctival sac and spreads over the cornea of the eye as a thin liquid film functioning as a tear substitute.
A sterile polyaphron gel comprising at least one water-soluble fluorinated surfactant in a concentration lower than critical micellae formation, water and one homopolar component in an amount greater than 60% by weight selected from the group consisting of partially fluorinated fluorocarbon compounds of the general formula RFRH, RFRHRF, fluorocarbon oligomers of the type (RF)XRH, silicone oil, and mixtures thereof;
- said sterile polyaphron gel being adapted for introduction into the conjunctival sac of an eye of a mammal to form a gel-like reservoir whereupon at each blink of the eye, a portion of the sterile polyaphron gel will liquefy irreversibly under the effect of the shear forces caused by the blink, extrude from the conjunctival sac and spread over the cornea of the eye as a thin liquid film functioning as a tear substitute.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.