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Hydroxypropyl-guar shows anti-evaporative effects

Eye Contact Lens. 2008;34(6):331-334.

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At 30 minutes and 60 minutes after instillation, hydroxypropyl-guar was shown to have an acute anti-evaporative effect in low relative humidity conditions. This could provide insight into the potential suitability of an artificial tear solution for sustained application in treatment of dry eye.

In a double-masked, placebo-controlled, two-period crossover clinical trial, aqueous tear evaporation was measured in 12 patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca who were randomly assigned to receive 40 µL of a drop containing hydroxypropyl-guar (Systane, Alcon) or normal saline at 30 minutes and 60 minutes at two visits spaced between 2 days and 14 days apart. Tear evaporation was measured using an evaporometer, which was also used to adjust relative humidity. Participants were between 51 and 83 years of age.

"The results suggest that it would be possible to determine the ideal interval between applications that would minimize the damage associated with ocular surface drying with a particular agent," the study authors said.