Ophthalmology
DRY EYE,
a well-known "civilisation disease"
Our eye drops with lubricant based on hyaluronic acid, introduced more than 20 years ago, meet a high level of compliance and patient satisfaction.
Dry eye affects between 5% and 34% of people worldwide and is a significant economic burden due to direct and indirect costs, such as reduced labour productivity.1,2,3
We have developed the VISMED® Line of eye drops with lubricants, consisting of hypoosmolar sodium hyaluronate solutions, which are used to treat symptoms and signs of dry eye, damage to the surface of the eye and eye irritation due to various diseases such as superficial keratitis, Sjogren’s syndrome or primary dry eye. Eye syndrome are indicated.4-6
The VISMED® Line product range was formulated to break the vicious circle of dry eyes by counteracting hyperosmolarity of the tear fluid and stabilising the tear film.7 With a choice of hyaluronic acid concentrations varying from 0.1% to 0.3%, we offer a customisable concentration range to meet the specific needs of the patient.
OPTHALMOLOGY FAQ
Dry eye is a common condition for many people. It has the following symptoms:
- A feeling of having a foreign body or gritty sensation in the eye.
- Watery eyes can also be due to dry eyes or to an allergic reaction.
- Your eyelids may swell if they are not properly lubricated, which can cause discomfort when blinking.
- Redness and pain in the eyes may also occur, as well as a feeling of fatigue around the eyes.
- It is important to pay attention to photosensitivity, because it often occurs as a result of dry eye disease.
VISMED® is a patented ophthalmic solution that relieves dry eye symptoms in seconds. If these symptoms persist, you should consult with your ophthalmologist, who will conduct a thorough examination.
Watery eyes do not exclude dry eye disease! On the contrary: it indicates possible instability of the tear film. It can result from a disorder of the lipid layer secreted by the Meibomius glands at the edge of the eyelid, whose role is to prevent the tear film from evaporating.
VISMED® is a medical device that uses patented technology to create an artificial tear-like drop. VISMED® is clinically proven to alleviate the symptoms of dry eye and restore moisture to the eyes.
If symptoms persist, you should consult your ophthalmologist to determine the exact cause.
- Environmental factors (hot and dry ambient air, seasonal factors, air conditioning systems)
- Environmental nuisances (ozone, dust, solvent vapours, etc.)
- Work using screens
- Rheumatic diseases or internal organ diseases such as Sjögren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes or thyroid diseases
- Skin diseases
- Hormonal changes
- Nerve paralysis, for example after a stroke
- Taking certain medications such as beta blockers or birth control pills.
With each blink, the tear film is spread over the surface of the eye – specifically, the cornea and conjunctiva – to keep it smooth and even. It brings essential nutrients and oxygen to the cornea, which is not irrigated by blood vessels (as it would disturb vision). If the tear film is intact, its composition also helps it fight bacterial infections and eliminate small foreign bodies.
VISMED® is a patented solution providing a complex protective coating that helps lubricate the eye and protects it from environmental stress. Thanks to its viscoelastic and water retention properties, VISMED® forms a stable film on the surface of the eye, which is only very slowly removed by blinking. hyper-evaporation
The tear film consists of three closely intertwined layers (or phases). The deep layer of mucin (or mucus), mainly secreted by the goblet cells, helps the tear film adhere to the surface of the cornea. The aqueous middle layer of the tear film is the thickest. It is mainly secreted by the lacrimal glands. In addition to water, it contains mainly nutrients, oxygen and germicidal substances. The surface layer of the tear film is secreted by the Meibomius glands. This lipidic phase has a stabilising function: it slows down the evaporation of the tear film.
VISMED® is a patented solution providing a complex protective coating that helps lubricate the eye and protects it from environmental stress. Thanks to its viscoelastic and water retention properties, VISMED® forms a stable film on the surface of the eye, which is only very slowly removed by blinking.
Keep yourself well hydrated:
A good water balance is absolutely essential for health and can prevent dry eye. Drink between 1.5 and 2 litres per day (preferably water).
Eat healthily:
A balanced and varied diet based on vegetables, salads and fruits, as well as sea fish rich in omega-3 in sufficient quantity, is a major tool for keeping your eyes healthy.
Blink voluntarily:
Get into the habit of consciously fluttering your eyelashes several times a day.
Eyelid hygiene:
Each blink of the eyelids distributes the tear film over the ocular surface. As a result, the eyelids protect the eye from drying, impurities and injuries. If palpebral lesions appear, this essential function will be disturbed. Inflammation of the sebaceous glands at the eyelid edge is often accompanied by redness, swelling and crusting, as well as dry eye. You must take meticulous care of your eyelids:
Eyelid hygiene with wipes
Eyelid massage
Gels or creams to clean damaged eyelids
To reduce eye strain:
- Look off into the distance and let your eyes wander to the horizon, without staring at anything.
- Protect your eyes from drafts.
- Air out regularly your office and living areas.
- Avoid cigarette smoke.
- Wear sunglasses when outdoors.
- Have your eyes examined regularly by your ophthalmologist.
You can find more information here about eyelid rim hygiene and what to look for.
Dry eye disease is a common and chronic condition that affects the eyes’ ability to produce tears, which are necessary for eye health. Dry eye occurs when there is a lack of tear production or when tears evaporate too quickly due to environmental factors, such as wind or air conditioning. There are many causes of dry eye disease, including your body not producing enough tears – also known as quantitative tear deficiency. It results in feelings of foreign bodies in the eye, eye fatigue and sensitivity to glare.
VISMED® is clinically proven to fight tear deficiency and relieve dry eye symptoms such as irritation and redness. VISMED® also helps increase the production of natural tears.
Ophthalmologists can use a variety of procedures and tests to examine the ocular surface, tear film, tear secretion and eyelids for diagnosis.
Looking for causes begins after a thorough medical interview that will precisely describe your symptoms. To do this, your ophthalmologist will use a slit lamp, an instrument that examines the entire eye using high magnification.
Additional tests include the tear film break-up time test, which evaluates the stability of the tear film; the Schirmer test, which determines the quantity of tears using blotting paper strips, as well as colorimetric tests that allow for a precise evaluation of the eye surface thanks to different stains (fluorescein, lissamine green, rose bengal).
Other important tests are eyelid examination and tear film osmolarity measurement.
Osmolarity is the measurement of the concentration of dissolved particles in a solution. Water loss due to evaporation from the tear film plays a key role in dry eye disease. Because of the rapid evaporation of tears, dry eyes are usually hyperosmolar, which means that the tears in the eye have a higher concentration of salts than in a healthy eye. This causes inflammation and irritation of the eyes.
VISMED® is dedicated to improving dry eye symptoms by finding a way to reduce the osmolarity of the tear film, which in turn reduces dry eye symptoms such as irritation and burning.
Dry eye is a chronic condition that requires recurrent treatment and monitoring. In order to prevent permanent damage to the surface of the eye, you should visit your ophthalmologist regularly.
Using screens is a common practice in our daily lives. From using smartphones to watching television, we are constantly exposed to screens. However, this could be bad for our health and even lead to dry eye syndrome. Indeed, we naturally tend to blink less frequently in front of a screen, which leads to faster evaporation of the tear film.
Dry eye disease is a condition in which the eyes do not produce enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly.
VISMED®’s patented formula offers a unique solution by relieving the symptoms of dry eye induced by excessive screen use while increasing natural tear production.
If your symptoms persist, you should consult with your ophthalmologist, who will conduct a thorough examination.
Find out more about our products for dry eye and eye surgery
Learn more- Messmer EM. The pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of dry eye disease. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2015;112(5):71-81.
- Stapleton F, Alves M, Bunya VY, Jalbert I, Lekhanont K, Malet F, et al. TFOS DEWS II epidemiology report. Ocul Surf. 2017;15:334-65.
- Moss SE, Klein R, Klein BE. Prevalence of and risk factors for dry eye syndrome. Arch Ophthalmol. 2000;118(9):1264-8.
- Vismed European instructions for use, last revision date: April 2012
- Vismed Gel European instructions for use, last revision date: September 2015
- Vismed Light European instructions for use, last revision date: September 2016
- Montes-Mico R, Caliz A, Alio JL. Changes in ocular aberrations after instillation of artificial tears in dry-eye patients. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2004;30:1649-52.