Eye Drop Review Part 2: Stepping Up with Systane Hydration
DRY EYE DROPS
Welcome back!
In our first review, we discussed using Systane Ultra as a benchmark for comparison for over-the-counter dry eye relief. Now, we're taking a look at two other drops within the Systane family: Systane Hydration and Systane Gel.
So let's get straight into it.
Systane Hydration Product Information:
Active Ingredients: Hydroxypropyl Guar, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyethylene Glycol 400, Propylene Glycol,
Non-active Ingredients: Boric Acid, Calcium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Zinc Chloride
Preservative: Preservative-free
Target Patients: Primarily for patients with more severe or persistent dry eyes, still focusing on aqueous-deficient dry eyes.
Contact Lenses: Suitable for use with contact lenses.
Also available in single-use vials
Systane Hydration contains all the same ingredients as Systane Ultra, with the addition of Sodium Hyaluronate.
As we saw with Systane Ultra, HP-Guar is a pH-sensitive polymer that forms a protective, cross-linked matrix on the surface of the eye. This matrix helps to shield the ocular surface and extend the drop's retention time on the eye. Hyaluronate is a natural humectant found in the eye, meaning it is exceptionally good at attracting and binding moisture. This synergistic action creates a powerful effect: the HP-Guar gel acts as a scaffold that helps to retain the hydrating HA on the eye's surface, providing enhanced moisture and long-lasting relief. Furthermore, hyaluronate has been shown to reduce ocular surface staining, ie damage, and promote corneal wound healing and regeneration. It has also been shown that the combination of HP-Guar and Hyaluronate is more effective than using either one by itself.
Our Verdict: A Step Up in Hydration
If Systane Ultra is the reliable sedan of the eye drop world, then Systane Hydration is the luxury SUV—it offers all the foundational reliability, but with a significant boost in performance, comfort, and safety features. It's an excellent choice for individuals who find that basic eye drops don't provide enough relief, or for those who are concerned about the potential effects of preservatives. By offering advanced hydration and superior ocular protection in a preservative-free format, Systane Hydration provides a premium solution for more demanding dry eye conditions.
Systane Gel:
Systane Gel has the same ingredients as Systane Ultra, except that it is a thicker gel formulation designed for Severe Dry Eyes.
This is not available preservative-free. So it might irritate the eyes a bit more than Systane Ultra or Systane Hydration. This is also not suitable for contact lens use.
I typically only recommend gel drops for use at night because during the day the gel will blur your vision. But I think there are better preservative-free alternatives for night use, so I don't recommend Systane Gel.
Our Verdict: Look for other preservative-free alternatives.
A Note from the Author
Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As an optometrist based in Australia, I aim to provide practical and well-researched information.
It is important to note that clinical studies on eye drops are usually funded by the company that makes them. Therefore, I encourage you to consider the findings with a discerning eye. More importantly, what works for one person might not work for another, and what doesn't work for you might work for someone else. Such is the nature of dry eye treatments.
This website is currently a work in progress, and I plan to add more visuals, including pictures and videos, and links to where you can purchase these products in the future. Please keep in mind that product names and availability may vary in your country.
References
Alcon. (n.d.). SYSTANE® HYDRATION Lubricant Eye Drops. Retrieved from https://systane.myalcon.com/au/products/systane-hydration/
Aragona, P., Papa, V., Micali, A., Santocono, M., & Milazzo, G. (2002). Long term treatment with sodium hyaluronate-containing artificial tears reduces ocular surface damage in patients with dry eye. The British journal of ophthalmology, 86(2), 181–184. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjo.86.2.181
Labiris G, Ntonti P, Sideroudi H, Kozobolis V. Impact of polyethylene glycol 400/propylene glycol/hydroxypropyl-guar and 0.1% sodium hyaluronate on postoperative discomfort following cataract extraction surgery: a comparative study. Eye Vis. 2017;4:13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40662-017-0079-5
Rangarajan, R., Kraybill, B., Ogundele, A., & Ketelson, H. A. (2015). Effects of a Hyaluronic Acid/Hydroxypropyl Guar Artificial Tear Solution on Protection, Recovery, and Lubricity in Models of Corneal Epithelium. Journal of ocular pharmacology and therapeutics : the official journal of the Association for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 31(8), 491–497. https://doi.org/10.1089/jop.2014.0164