Compositions for the treatment of dry eye

Abstract

The present invention relates to ophthalmic compositions and methods useful to treat dry eye, or to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent dry eye syndrome in man or other animals.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ophthalmic composition comprising polyoxyethylene (80) sorbitan monooleate, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, glycerin, boric acid, acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, castor oil, erythritol, levocarnitine, sodium hydroxide, and water. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polyoxyethylene (80) sorbitan monooleate is present at a concentration of about 0.1% w/w to about 2% w/w. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the carboxymethylcellulose sodium is present at a concentration of about 0.1 w/w to about 2% w/w. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the glycerin is present at a concentration of about 0.2% w/w to about 5% w/w. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the boric acid is present at a concentration of about 0.02% to about 2% w/w. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer is present at a concentration of about 0.02% to about 0.5% w/w. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the castor oil is present at a concentration of about 0.05% to about 0.5% w/w. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the erythritol is present at a concentration of about 0.05% or about 3% w/w. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the levocarnitine is present at a concentration of about 0.05% or about 3% w/w. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the pH is about 7.3. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising about 0.5% w/w polyoxyethylene (80) sorbitan monooleate, about 0.5% w/w carboxymethylcellulose sodium, about 1.0% w/w glycerin, about 0.6% w/w boric acid, about 0.1% w/w acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, about 0.25% w/w castor oil, about 0.25% w/w erythritol, about 0.25% w/w levocarnitine, sodium hydroxide, a pH of about 7.3 and water. 
     
     
         12 . A method of treating, diagnosing, curing, mitigating or preventing dry eye syndrome comprising administering an effective amount of an ophthalmic composition according to  claim 1  to an eye of a man or other animal in need thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the ophthalmic composition comprises about 0.5% w/w polyoxyethylene (80) sorbitan monooleate, about 0.5% w/w carboxymethylcellulose sodium, about 1.0% w/w glycerin, about 0.6% w/w boric acid, about 0.1% w/w acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, about 0.25% w/w castor oil, about 0.25% w/w erythritol, about 0.25% w/w levocarnitine, sodium hydroxide, a pH of about 7.3 and water. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising stabilized oxychloro complexes. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 14 , wherein the stabilized oxychloro complex is present at a concentration of about 0.002% or about 0.05% w/w. 
     
     
         16 . The ophthalmic composition of  claim 11 , further comprising about 0.01% w/w of stabilized oxychloro complexes. 
     
     
         17 . A method of treating, diagnosing, curing, mitigating or preventing dry eye syndrome comprising administering an effective amount of an opthalmic composition according to  claim 14  to an eye of a man or other animal in need thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the ophthalmic composition comprises about 0.5% w/w polyoxyethylene (80) sorbitan monooleate, about 0.5% w/w carboxymethylcellulose sodium, about 1.0% w/w glycerin, about 0.01% w/w of stabilized oxychloro complexes, about 0.6% w/w boric acid, about 0.1% w/w acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, about 0.25% w/w Castor Oil, about 0.25% w/w erythritol, about 0.25% w/w levocarnitine, sodium hydroxide to obtain a pH of about 7.3 and water.