ARTIFICIAL TEAR COMPOSITIONS
The invention provides artificial tear compositions comprising one or more nonionic surfactants with one or more non-Newtonian viscosity enhancing excipients.
1 . An artificial tear composition comprising 3-7% w/v polyoxyl 40 stearate and optionally one or more nonionic surfactants selected from up to 0.2% w/v poloxamer 407, up to 0.1% w/v poloxamer 188, up to 1.0% w/v polysorbate 80, up to 1.0% w/v polysorbate 20 and 0.25%-5.0% w/v polyoxyl 35 castor oil, or a combination thereof; and one or more non-Newtonian viscosity enhancing excipients selected from 0.2%-0.8% w/v carboxymethyl cellulose and 0.1%-0.75% w/v hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose or a combination thereof, wherein w/v denotes weight by volume.
2 . The composition of claim 1 further comprising 0.25% w/v sodium chloride and 0.01% w/v benzalkonium chloride.
3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the viscosity enhancing excipient is hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose at an amount of 0.10% w/v.
4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the viscosity enhancing excipient is hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose at an amount of 0.20% w/v.
5 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the viscosity enhancing excipient is hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose at an amount of 0.30% w/v.
6 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the viscosity enhancing excipient is hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose at an amount of 0.40% w/v.
7 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the viscosity enhancing excipient is hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose at an amount of 0.50% w/v.
8 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the viscosity enhancing excipient is hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose at an amount of 0.62% w/v.
9 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the viscosity enhancing excipient is hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose at an amount of 0.75% w/v.
10 . The artificial tear composition of claim 1 further comprising, glycerin from about 0.1% to about 1.0% w/v.
11 . The artificial tear composition of claim 1 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is polyoxyl 35 castor oil at 0.25% w/v and the viscosity enhancing excipient is 0.30% w/v hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose.
12 . The artificial tear composition of claim 1 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is polyoxyl 35 castor oil at 1.00% w/v and the viscosity enhancing excipient is 0.30% w/v hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose.
13 . The artificial tear composition of claim 1 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is polyoxyl 35 castor oil at 1.50% w/v and the viscosity enhancing excipient is 0.30% w/v hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose.
14 . A method of treating eye discomfort comprising administering the artificial tear composition of claim 1 to a subject in need thereof.
15 . The method of claim 14 further comprising a contact lens cleaning capability.