Ocular Lubricants

Acetylcysteine (Ilube®), Carbomers (Artelac Nighttime®, GelTears®, Viscotears®, Xailin®), Carmellose sodium (Celluvisc®, Optive®), Hydroxyethylcellulose (Minims artificial tears®), Hypromellose (Artelac®, Isopto Plain®), Hypromellose with Dextran 70 (Tears Naturale®), Liquid paraffin with white soft paraffin and wool alcohols (Xailin Night®, Lacrilube®), Polyvinyl alcohol (Liquifilm tears®, Sno Tears®), Retinol palmitate with white soft paraffin, light liquid paraffin, liquid paraffin and wool fat (Hylo Night®, Vit-A POS®), Sodium chloride, Sodium hyaluronate (Clinitas®, Evolve HA®, Hyabak®), Sodium hyaluronate with trehalose (Thealoz Duo®), Soybean oil (Emustil®), Yellow soft paraffin (Simple eye ointment)

The above is not an exhaustive list of brands - for a complete list consult current edition of British National Formulary

Issues for Surgery

For dry eyes - discomfort, soreness and inflammation of ocular surface if omitted.

For corneal epithelial erosion - deterioration in symptoms if omitted.

Advice in the Perioperative period

Elective and Emergency Surgery

Continue (unless the patient is undergoing ophthalmology surgery and the Ophthalmologist requests for them to be withheld).

Post-operative Advice

Restart post-operatively when next dose is due (unless the patient has undergone ophthalmology surgery and the Ophthalmologist requests for them to be withheld).

Interaction(s) with Common Anaesthetic Agents

None¹.

Interaction(s) with other Common Medicines used in the Perioperative Period

None¹.

Further Information

None relevant.

References

Joint Formulary Committee. British National Formulary (online) London: BMJ Group and Pharmaceutical Press. http://www.medicinescomplete.com [Accessed on 5^th February 2021]