Gel tears. A new medication for the treatment of dry eyes.

Gel Tears, a clear, semisolid formulation of synthetic, high molecular weight, cross-linked polymers of acrylic acid, persists in the conjunctival sac for hours after topical instillation, slowly melting while absorbing fluid and retaining it locally. In the present study of 55 patients (106 eyes) with severe dry eyes, who were unable to obtain ocular comfort with frequent administration of a wide variety of commercially available artificial tear preparations, 78% were improved by Gel Tear therapy. Subjective symptoms such as burning, stinging, foreign body sensation, dryness, and photophobia were significantly (P less than 0.001) alleviated, while objective signs concurrently improved but to a lesser degree. No patient required Gel Tears more often than four times daily. Most maintained optimal comfort on a dose of twice daily or less, and several patients previously unable to obtain ocular comfort with hourly administered conventional artificial tears required Gel Tears less than once a day.