Brand Names of Sodium Hyaluronate Eye Drops
Based on the available evidence, several over-the-counter sodium hyaluronate eye drops are commercially available, including Hyalein®, Hyabak®, Thealose Duo® (which combines sodium hyaluronate with trehalose), and Comfort Shield® (a very-high-molecular-weight formulation). 1, 2, 3, 4
Specific Brand Names Identified
The research literature documents the following commercially available products:
Hyalein® (Santen, Japan) - A 0.1% sodium hyaluronate formulation containing 0.003% C12-benzalkonium chloride preservative 2, 3
Hyabak® (Thea, France) - Contains sodium hyaluronate alone 1
Thealose Duo® (Thea, France) - A combination product containing both sodium hyaluronate and trehalose 1
Comfort Shield® - A very-high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid formulation that has shown efficacy even in patients previously requiring autologous serum eye drops 4
Additional Generic Formulations
Multiple generic sodium hyaluronate preparations exist beyond the brand-name Hyalein, including products from manufacturers such as Tearbalance, Nissin, Nitten, Nitten PF (preservative-free), Eyecare, and Kyorin 2. These generics vary in their pharmaceutical properties including surface tension, drop volume, and squeeze force required for administration.
Clinical Considerations
Preservative-free formulations are strongly preferred for patients at high risk of dry eye disease or those requiring frequent dosing, as preservatives like benzalkonium chloride can cause ocular surface toxicity 5. The guidelines emphasize minimizing preservative-containing eye drops in high-risk patients to prevent exacerbation of dry eye disease 5.
The combination products containing trehalose with sodium hyaluronate demonstrate synergistic autophagy induction, which enhances cellular protection during desiccation stress 1. This suggests potential advantages for combination formulations in managing dry eye conditions.