Ophthalmic Compositions

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions providing improved substantivity, comfort and/or feel to the eye upon application. The present invention further relates to compositions comprising a cellulose derivative in combination with tamarind seed extract and hyaluronic acid in ratios that mimic the physical properties of human tears on the eye.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition, comprising:
 a polymer mixture comprising
 i. a cellulose derivative; 
 ii. a tamarind seed extract; and 
 iii hyaluronic acid; 
   wherein the cellulose derivative, tamarind seed extract and hyaluronic acid are combined at a ratio of: 1 to 10 parts cellulose derivative:1 to 4 parts tamarind seed extract:1 to 2 parts hyaluronic acid, to form the polymer mixture.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the cellulose derivative is selected from (or, selected from the group consisting of) hydroxyalkyl cellulose polymers, alkyl hydroxyalkyl cellulose polymers; methyl cellulose; methyl cellulose derivatives; hydroxymethycellulose derivatives; and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the hydroxyalkyl cellulose polymers are selected from (or, selected from the group consisting of) hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the alkyl hydroxyalkyl cellulose polymers is cetyl hydroxyethyl cellulose. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the methyl cellulose derivative is selected from (or, selected from the group consisting of) carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxmethyl cellulose, a hydroxymethyl cellulose derivative or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the hydroxymethyl cellulose derivative is selected from (or, selected from the group consisting of) hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxybutyl methyl cellulose or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the total concentration of the polymer mixture of cellulose derivative, tamarind seed extract and hyaluronic acid is greater than about 0.4% to about 0.9%, by weight, of the total composition of the present invention. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , the total concentration of non-ionic and anionic polymer of the compositions is from (or greater than) 0.4% (or about 0.4%) to about 1.0% (or about 1.0%), by weight, of the total composition of the present invention. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the surface tension of the composition ranges from about 40.8 dynes/cm to 51.9 dynes/cm as measured by the Rame-Hart—DROPimage Advanced Software Pendant Drop Method described in the specification. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the rate of moisture loss for the composition is less than 1 mg/3 minutes at 37° C. and 70% relative humidity as measured by the DVS Intrinsic Measurement System and DVS-Intrinsic Control Software Method described in the specification. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has a viscosity of from about 30 to 100 cps at zero shear as measured by the AR2000 Flow Test Method described in the specification. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the compositions have a viscosity of less than 30 cps at the shear rate of blinking ( 1/100 sec.) as measured by the AR2000 Flow Test Method described in the specification. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has an elastic modulus G′ greater than 0.70 (or about 0.70) Pascals and a phase angle δ of from about 40° to about 65° as measured by the Bohlin CVOR Rheometer Visco-Elastic Property Test Method described in the specification. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has:
 i. a surface tension ranging from about 40.8 dynes/cm to 51.9 dynes/cm as measured by the Rame-Hart—DROPimage Advanced Software Pendant Drop Method described in the specification;   ii. a rate of moisture loss of less than 1 mg/3 minutes at 37° C. and 70% relative humidity as measured by the DVS Intrinsic Measurement System and DVS-Intrinsic Control Software Method described in the specification;   iii. a viscosity of from about 30 to 100 cps at zero shear and a viscosity of less than 30 cps at the shear rate of blinking ( 1/100 sec.) as measured by the AR2000 Flow Test Method described in the specification; and   iv. an elastic modulus G′ greater than 0.70 (or about 0.70) Pascals and a phase angle δ of from about 40° to about 65° as measured by the Bohlin CVOR Rheometer Visco-Elastic Property Test Method described in the specification.