5. Ophthalmic lavage solutions

Ophthalmic solutions are sterile aqueous solutions for rinsing or washing the eyes, or for soaking eye compresses. They differ from eye drops only in their larger volume, ranging from several dozen to several hundred mL, with a Pharmacopoeia-recommended limit of 200 mL.

Their main indications are eyewash for conjunctival irritation and ophthalmic surgery for prolonged irrigation of the anterior chamber of the eye.

They are formulated like eye drops in aqueous solution. Solutions packaged in multi-dose vials contain an antimicrobial preservative such as benzalkonium chloride. For surgery, preservative-free single-dose presentations are used.

The manufacturing processes and tests to be carried out are identical to those for aqueous eye drops.