Artificial Tears

Artificial tears are used to protect and lubricate mucous membranes and relieve eye dryness and irritation. Artificial tears are available over-the-counter (OTC) and as a generic.

• Artificial tears are available under the following different brand names: Tears Naturale PM, Isopto Tears, Bion Tears, Tears Naturale Forte, Tears Naturale Free Lubricant, Tears Naturale II Polyquad, Tears Plus, Lacril, Liquifilm Tears, LubriTears, Minims Artificial Tears, Celluvisc, Gel Tears, Bausch & Lomb Advanced Eye Relief Dry Eye Environmental Lubricant Eye Drops, Bausch & Lomb Advanced Eye Relief Dry Eye Rejuvenation Lubricant Eye Drops, Bausch & Lomb Soothe Long Lasting (Preservative Free) Eye Drops, Visine Tired Eye Relief, Visine TEARS Dry Eye Relief, and Visine TEARS Long Lasting Dry Eye Relief.

Side effects of Artificial Tears can include:

• Blurred vision
• Eye pain
• Headache
• Itching/stinging
• Redness in and around the eyes
• Skin rash
• Crusting of eyelids

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors;
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
• Serious heart symptoms such as fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in your chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheartedness, or passing out.

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

Ophthalmic Solution with Preservative

• 1% glycerin
• 0.3% glycerin/1% propylene glycol
• 0.5% polyvinyl alcohol/0.6% povidone
• 1% polyvinyl alcohol/1% polyethylene glycol 400
• 1.25% povidone
• 0.4% polyethylene glycol 400/0.3% propylene glycol
• 1.4% polyvinyl alcohol
• 0.1% dextran 70/0.3% methylcellulose 2910
• 0.1% dextran 70/0.2% glycerin/0.3% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 2910

Ophthalmic Solution without Preservative

• 0.1% dextran 70/0.3% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 2910
• 0.6% glycerin/0.6% propylene glycol
• 0.1% dextran 70/0.3% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 2910
• 0.4% polyethylene glycol 400/0.3% propylene glycol
• 1% polysorbate 80

Ophthalmic Ointment

• 94% white petrolatum/3% mineral oil/lanolin
• 85% white petrolatum/15% mineral oil
• white petrolatum/anhydrous liquid lanolin/mineral oil
• white petrolatum/mineral oil
• white petrolatum/light mineral oil
• 57.7% white petrolatum/31.9% mineral oil
• 55.5% white petrolatum/42.5% mineral oil/2% petrolatum/lanolin alcohol
• 56.8% white petrolatum/42.5% mineral oil/chlorobutanol/lanolin alcohols
• 56.8% white petrolatum/41.5% mineral oil/lanolin alcohols/sodium chloride
• 83% white petrolatum/15% mineral oil
• 80% white petrolatum/20% mineral oil
• 15% mineral oil/85% white petrolatum

Ophthalmic Emulsion

• 0.5% light mineral oil/0.5% mineral oil

Ophthalmic Gel

• 0.3% hypromellose/phosphoric acid/sodium hydroxide/sodium perborate
• 1.5% carboxymethylcellulose/0.1% polyvinylpyrrolidone
• 0.25% PEG 400/boric acid/potassium chloride/sodium borate/sodium chloride/sodium hyaluronate
• Ophthalmic Spray Solution
• retinyl palmitate/tocopheryl acetate/magnesium ascorbyl phosphate/polysorbate 80/sodium chloride/sodium hydroxide/phenoxyethanol/alcohol/disodium EDTA/PEG-12/glyceryl

Dosage Considerations - Should Be Given as Follows

• Adult and Pediatric Dosing for Relief of Dry Eyes
• Solution: Instill 1-2 drops into the eye(s) as necessary to relieve symptoms
• Ointment: Pull down the lid of the affected eye and apply 0.25 in of ointment to the inside of the eyelid

Dosing Considerations

• Formulations vary widely
• Preservative-free formulations available
• Some preparations have prolonged contact time and require less often dosing (CelluviscR)

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

Artificial Tears has no listed interactions with other drugs.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

Warnings

This medication contains artificial tears. Do not take Tears Naturale PM, Isopto Tears, Bion Tears, Tears Naturale Forte, Tears Naturale Free Lubricant, Tears Naturale II Polyquad, Tears Plus, Lacril, Liquifilm Tears, LubriTears, Minims Artificial Tears, Celluvisc, Gel Tears, Bausch & Lomb Advanced Eye Relief Dry Eye Environmental Lubricant Eye Drops, Bausch & Lomb Advanced Eye Relief Dry Eye Rejuvenation Lubricant Eye Drops, Bausch & Lomb Soothe Long Lasting (Preservative Free) Eye Drops, Visine Tired Eye Relief, Visine TEARS Dry Eye Relief, or Visine TEARS Long Lasting Dry Eye Relief if you are allergic to artificial tears or any ingredients contained in this drug.

Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to components

Effects of Drug Abuse

• No information available

Short-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Artificial Tears?"

Long-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Artificial Tears?"

Cautions

• No information is available.

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before using artificial tears. Some forms of artificial tears are safe for use during pregnancy.
• The use of artificial tears is compatible with breastfeeding.