Artificial Tears: What are they for? How to choose the best ones?
People who wear contact lenses often find themselves suffering from discomfort due to dry eyes. To be able to solve this annoying problem, pharmacists and specialists recommend the use of specific products specially designed for the comfort of the eye, namely artificial tears .
In today’s guide we will carefully explain what artificial tears are, how they work and how they act to restore eye hydration and we will also talk about which are the best artificial tears on the market to solve this annoying problem.
Artificial tears: what they are and what they are for
Artificial tears are a moisturizing fluid for the eyes which, thanks to its specific formula, is close to the natural composition of tears produced by our tear ducts. Our tear fluid is a compound of an aqueous base in which a large number of different substances are dissolved such as:
- Mineral salts;
- Lipids;
- Protein;
- Various protective substances.
The use of artificial tears, which can compensate for the scarcity or lack of natural tears, helps the eye perform its natural lubricating function, avoid dry eyes and reproduce the normal tearing of the eyes .
Artificial tears are especially useful for those people who suffer from dry eyes caused by continuous work in front of the PC screen, by staying in very hot or very dusty places or by the continuous use of contact lenses.
Advanced age also causes dry eyes and artificial tears can be very useful in this case too. Artificial tears have a specific composition based on water and substances which help hydrate the eye, facilitate eyelid sliding, keep the eye clean and provide adequate protection to the cornea.
In most cases the formulas and components of artificial tears are based on specific substances such as:
- Polivinilalcol;
- Hyaluronic acid;
- Cellulose derivatives;
- Povidone.
Artificial tears can be found on sale both in the form of single- dose eye drops in convenient disposable vials or in multi- dose packs . The single-dose artificial tear drops are sold in packs that contain a certain number of small bottles that are used only once and that, once opened, must be thrown away and not reused.
The multi-dose artificial tears eye drops are opened, used as needed and closed again. It can be easily stored and carried with you and inside it contains a certain amount of product which allows it to be used in multiple applications. By law, multidose eye drops contain a certain amount of preservatives, but they have a short shelf life and should be discarded 30 days after opening.
It is advisable not to use the package after the expiry date even if the product is well preserved. After 30 days the eye drops lose their effectiveness and may also lose their hygienic properties.
She defines herself as curious by nature. In 2006 she graduated with honors in Biotechnology at the Sapienza University of Rome. Between 2005 and 2009, she carried out a university internship and research activity in the field of tumor immunotherapy. She is a co-author of three scientific publications. Since 2007 you have associated your passion for science with that for the web, starting the management of the FitnessEquilibrium.com project.