Sterile hyaluronic acid solutions

1. A sterilized aqueous solution comprising:

0. 04% to 0.8% by weight hyaluronic acid with a weight average molecular weight from 0.6 MDa to 3.6 MDa; and

an alkali borate;

wherein the aqueous solution has an ionic strength equivalent to an aqueous concentration of sodium chloride from 4% to 18% by weight of sodium chloride and a pH from 6.4 to 7.2, and the solution is filtered through a filter medium that has an average pore size of 0.25 μm or less to provide a sterilized high salt, hyaluronic acid solution.

2. The aqueous solution of claim 1 wherein the concentration of the hyaluronic acid is from 0.1% to 0.5% by weight.

3. The aqueous solution of claim 1 wherein the hyaluronic acid has a weight average molecular weight from 0.8 MDa to 2.2 MDa.

4. The aqueous solution of claim 1 comprising 0.1% to 0.4% by weight hyaluronic acid, and includes sodium chloride at a concentration of 8% to 16% by weight.

5. The aqueous solution of claim 1 at a temperature from 50° C. to 65° C.

6. An aqueous high salt, hyaluronic acid solution comprising an ionic strength equivalent of approximately 25 g to 60 g of sodium chloride for every 1 g of hyaluronic acid in one liter of solution and an alkali borate, wherein the concentration of hyaluronic acid in the solution is from 0.05 wt.% to 0.4 wt.%, and the hyaluronic acid has a weight average molecular weight from 0.8 MDa to 2.2 MDa, wherein the solution is filtered through a filter medium that has an average pore size of 0.25 μm or less to provide a sterilized high salt, hyaluronic acid solution with a pH of 6.4 to 7.2.

7. The aqueous solution of claim 6 wherein the alkali borate is sodium borate.

8. The aqueous solution of claim 6 comprising 0.1% to 0.4% by weight hyaluronic acid, and includes sodium chloride at a concentration of 8% to 16% by weight.

9. The aqueous solution of claim 6 at a temperature from 50° C. to 65° C.