The etymology of collyrium refers us to the Latin word collyrĭum , which in turn comes from the Greek kollýrion . An eye drop is an eye medication that consists of one or more substances mixed, sprayed, diluted or dissolved in a liquid .
Eye drops, therefore, are suspensions or solutions of chemical substances in a fluid that are instilled in the eye: that is, they are applied by drops for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes.
It is important to establish that there is a general classification of the different types of eye drops that is made up of the following:
-Eye drops without a medical prescription. As the name suggests, they can be purchased by the person directly at the pharmacy, without having to first go to their doctor's office. These eye drops, in turn, are divided into two groups: artificial tears, which help hydrate the eyes, and eye drops for red eyes, which aim to end this irritation.
-Prescription eye drops, which are those that require a doctor's prescription and are antibiotics. Within this group there are the following types: bacteriostatic , which prevent the spread of bacteria; bactericides, which help eliminate bacteria; and antibiotic combinations. The objective of the latter is to achieve the greatest possible effectiveness of the treatment being carried out.
To make eye drops, an active ingredient is used (a substance with pharmacological properties) accompanied by agents that regulate pH and tone and prevent the appearance of microbes. These components are combined into a liquid known as a carrier or base solution . Sometimes eye drops include other additional agents, such as humectants or antioxidants.
According to their purpose, it is possible to differentiate between moisturizing eye drops , anti-inflammatory eye drops and antibiotic eye drops . There are also diagnostic eye drops , used by ophthalmologists with the aim of visualizing the optic nerve and retina .
In addition to all of the above, we cannot ignore the existence of what is known as cycloplegic eye drops that are used for different purposes:
-There are those whose mission is to reduce or eliminate inflammation of the cornea due to some type of bacteria or virus.
-There are also eye drops that are responsible for dilating the pupils and are used in ophthalmologist consultations.
-Likewise, we must not forget those that proceed to end the irritation that the iris area may feel.
Glaucoma , uveitis and conjunctivitis are some of the disorders that can be treated with the use of eye drops. The usefulness of the remedy will depend on the active ingredient and the composition of the eye drops in question.
It is important to mention that, to guarantee the sterility of the eye drops, these products include certain substances that prevent the development of microbes once the container is opened. In recent years, however, they began to come in single-dose containers.