What are the preservative-free eye drops?
Dec 29, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Jiang Weimin
Introduction
Preservative-free eye drops are primarily used for long-term treatment of eye diseases. Preservatives themselves can cause ocular surface damage, and prolonged use may lead to dry eye syndrome, corneal damage, and conjunctival epithelial injury. Therefore, preservative-free eye drops must be selected. Eye drops intended for long-term use are generally artificial tears for treating dry eye or anti-fatigue types.
In daily life, due to long working hours, many people carry eye drops to relieve eye fatigue. Some of these eye drops do not contain preservatives. So, what are preservative-free eye drops?
What Are Preservative-Free Eye Drops?
Preservative-free eye drops are mainly used for long-term treatment of eye conditions. Preservatives themselves can cause damage to the ocular surface, and prolonged use may lead to dry eye syndrome, corneal damage, or conjunctival epithelial injury. Therefore, preservative-free eye drops should be selected. Eye drops intended for long-term use are generally artificial tears for treating dry eye or anti-fatigue types. Artificial tear products include sodium hyaluronate eye drops, polyvinyl alcohol hydrochloride eye drops, and traditional Chinese medicine-based digitalis eye drops. Preservative-free eye drops usually come in single-use packaging of 0.1 ml or valve-controlled containers that minimize air exposure. These packaging methods help prevent contamination but result in higher production costs and relatively higher prices.
After one month of opening, exposure to air increases the risk of medication contamination, so the drops should no longer be used after this period. In clinical practice, whether eye drops contain preservatives or not, once opened, the solution is exposed to air. During use, the dropper tip may also come into contact with surfaces or fingers, increasing the risk of contamination. Generally, after being opened for one month, continued use raises the likelihood of bacterial growth, which could lead to eye infections. Reusing such drops may result in recurrent eye infections. Therefore, it's recommended not to use any eye drops beyond one month after opening. However, certain preservative-free daily-use eye drops should be discarded within 24 hours after opening, as they are designed for single-day use only.
It's important to take proper care. If you spend extended periods looking at electronic devices such as computers or smartphones, remember to look into the distance regularly or close your eyes to rest and relieve eye strain. We hope this information has been helpful. Wishing you good health and a happy life!
