Ophthalmic compositions and methods for treating eyes
Ophthalmic compositions including compatible solute components and/or polyanionic components are useful in treating eyes, for example, to relieve dry eye syndrome, to protect the eyes against hypertonic insult and/or the adverse effects of cationic species on the ocular surfaces of eyes and/or to facilitate recovery from eye surgery.
1. A topical ophthalmic composition for the treatment of dry eye comprising:
an aqueous carrier;
erythritol, its isomers or suitable salts thereof;
carnitine, its isomers or suitable salts thereof; and
an ionically charged polymeric material selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose and mixtures of carboxymethyl cellulose compounds; and
wherein the composition is effective for the treatment of dry eye.
2. The composition of claim 1 which has an osmolality in a range of 300 to 600 mOsmols/kg.
3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the ionically charged polymeric material is a polyanionic carboxymethyl cellulose present in an amount in a range of 0.1% (w/v) to 10% (w/v) of the composition.
4. The composition of claim 3 wherein the polyanionic polymeric material is sodium carboxymethyl cellulose.
5. The composition of claim 4 , further comprising glycerin.
6. The composition of claim 5 further comprising stabilized chlorine dioxide, boric acid and sodium citrate.
7. An artificial tear for treating dry eye by providing osmoprotection to the ocular surface comprising:
erythritol, its isomers or suitable salts thereof;
carnitine, its isomers or suitable salts thereof;
carboxymethylcellulose; and
water; and
wherein the composition is effective for the treatment of dry eye.
8. The composition of claim 7 , comprising erythritol in an amount between 0.01% (w/v) and 3% (w/v), carnitine in an amount between 0.01% (w/v) and 3% (w/v), and carboxymethylcellulose in an amount between 0.1% (w/v) and 10% (w/v).
9. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the erythritol is present in an amount between 0.25% (w/v) and 0.75% (w/v), the carnitine is present in an amount between 0.25% (w/v) and 0.75% (w/v), and the carboxymethylcellulose is present in an amount of about 0.5% (w/v).
10. The composition of claim 8 , further comprising glycerin, boric acid, sodium borate, sodium citrate, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride.
11. An ophthalmically acceptable composition comprising:
carnitine, or a stereoisomer or a salt thereof;
erythritol, or a stereoisomer thereof, in an amount that is effective to treat dry eye;
an anionic cellulose derivative in an amount that is effective to treat dry eye;
a tonicity adjusting component that is not erythritol; and
water.
12. The composition of claim 11 , having a tonicity of about 310 Osmols/kg to about 600 Osmols/kg.
13. The composition of claim 11 , having a viscosity of about 10 cps to about 70 cps.
14. The composition of claim 11 , wherein the anionic cellulose derivative is carboxymethylcelullose at a concentration of about 0.5% w/v.
15. The composition of claim 11 , comprising erythritol at a concentration of about 0.25% w/v to about 0.5% w/v.
16. The composition of claim 14 , comprising erythritol at a concentration of about 0.25% w/v to about 0.5% w/v.
17. The composition of claim 11 , comprising carnitine at a concentration of about 0.1% w/v to about 0.25% w/v.
18. The composition of claim 16 , comprising carnitine at a concentration of about 0.1% w/v to about 0.25% w/v.