Systane Eye Drops
Systane lubricant eye drop or Systane eye drops are used to relive dry eye symptoms such as itching of the eyes, redness, foreign body sensation and burning sensation.
How Systane Eye Drops is Supplied?
It is supplied in 15 mL and 30 mL bottles.
Ingredients
Active Ingredients
Polyethylene Glycol 400 (0.4%) and Propylene Glycol (0.3%) as lubricant agents and 0.18% polymer HP-Guar polysaccharide as gelling agent which is a pH sensitive. This agent changes its viscosity according to the pH of the media.
Inactive Ingredients
Boric Acid, Calcium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Purified Water, Sodium Chloride and Zinc Chloride.
Preservative
Polyquad or Polyquaternium-1 which is a more benign preservative agent than benzylkonium chloride. It respects the integrity of corneal epithelium and does not inhibit corneal epithelial cell regeneration.
How does Systane provide relief for dry eye syndrome?
1- At pH of 7.0, (in the bottle) Systane is relatively a fluid. The pH of 7.4, as on the eye, Systane will become gel like material. This alteration of the properties according to pH occurs due to unique cross-linking between borate and HP Guar. This cross linking forms gel like material that improves lubrication and protect corneal surface from damages.
2- Systane molecules bind to corneal surface cells and form a protective barrier under the aqueous layer. This protective barrier acts like a natural mucin and glycocalyx. In patients with dry eyes, corneal surface has places where the mucin layer is absent and it can replace mucin layer in these places.
Side Effects of Systane Eye Drops
Some people can have allergic reaction to Systane and its components. Signs and symptoms of allergic reaction are:
1- Difficulty breathing.
2- Swelling of your eyelid, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
3- Skin rashes.
4- Shock.
If you notice any of these symptoms, you should stop the medication directly and seek immediate emergency medical help.
Some mild side effects that were noticed in some patients such as:
1- Mild itching.
2- Mild burning sensation and irritation
3- Red eye.
4- Blurred vision especially directly after application of the drops, which is transient and last for few seconds.
5- Watery eyes.
Can we use Systane eye drops with contact lenses?
There is a special type of Systane called Systane Contacts Lubricant Eye Drops which can be used specifically for patients who wear contact lenses without the need to remove their lenses.
Other forms of Systane can be used after taking the contact lenses of and then inserting them after 10 minutes.
