Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026
07:36
Clinical Application of Intense Pulsed Light Therapy and Radio Frequency for Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases
Published on: July 3, 2025
A clinical evaluation of Systane
Paul Gifford1, Bruce J W Evans, Judith Morris
1Department of Optometry and Visual Science, City University, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB, UK. pgifford@student.unsw.edu.au
Summary
Systane, a new artificial tear with hydroxypropyl-Guar (HP-Guar), effectively reduced dry eye symptoms and improved ocular signs. However, induced blur was a noted complication requiring further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Optometry
- Ocular Surface Disease
Background:
- Introduction of Systane, an artificial tear solution featuring hydroxypropyl-Guar (HP-Guar), a pH-dependent gelling polymer.
- Evaluation of Systane's efficacy in an open-label trial for patients experiencing dry eye symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of Systane in alleviating symptoms and signs of dry eye.
- To evaluate patient satisfaction with Systane as an ocular lubricant.
Main Methods:
- Inclusion of patients with dry eye symptoms and corneal staining.
- Assessment of ocular irritation symptoms, conjunctival injection, corneal staining, tear break-up time (TBUT), and tear meniscus height.
- Patients self-administered Systane four times daily for approximately four weeks.
Main Results:
- Significant improvement in ocular irritation symptoms, conjunctival injection, conjunctival and corneal staining, and TBUT.
- No significant change observed in tear meniscus height.
- Systane demonstrated effectiveness in reducing dry eye symptoms, but induced blur was reported by several participants.
Conclusions:
- Systane shows promise as an effective ocular lubricant, potentially due to HP-Guar's gelling properties enhancing ocular surface retention.
- Further randomized controlled trials are necessary to confirm these benefits.
- The incidence and impact of induced blur require additional investigation.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are prospective experimental studies conducted on humans to determine the safety and efficacy of treatments, drugs, diet methods, and medical devices. Using statistics in clinical trials enables researchers to derive reasonable and accurate conclusions from the collected data, allowing them to make wise decisions in uncertain situations. In medical research, statistical methods are crucial for preventing errors and bias.
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
01:29Clinically Relevant Drug Product Specifications: Methods of Establishment
Product specifications define the acceptable quality of a pharmaceutical product by ensuring identity, purity, potency, and strength. These specifications serve as benchmarks during development, manufacturing, and post-approval quality control. Clinically relevant specifications are particularly important because they directly relate to a drug's safety and efficacy in clinical use.Dissolution studies are critical biopharmaceutic tools that link in vitro behavior to in vivo performance. They...
01:23Ophthalmic Drug Delivery Systems
Ophthalmic drug delivery faces major limitations due to poor absorption across the corneal membrane. This process is primarily driven by diffusion and is influenced by two main factors: the physicochemical properties of the drug and tear drainage. Most ophthalmic drugs, such as pilocarpine, epinephrine, atropine, and local anesthetics, are weak bases. They are typically formulated at an acidic pH to enhance chemical stability. However, this leads to high ionization, reducing their ability to...
01:11Clinical Trials: Overview
Clinical development focuses on how the drug will interact with the human body and encompasses four key phases of clinical trials, each serving a specific purpose in assessing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs. These phases overlap and build upon one another. Phase I involves a small group of healthy volunteers (typically 20-80 individuals) or, in cases where significant toxicity is expected, patients with the targeted disease, such as cancer or AIDS. The volunteers are tested for...