| abstract |
Stabilized chlorine dioxide is a preservative for ophthalmic formulations. The stabilized chlorine dioxide, when employed as a preservative or in the formulation of aqueous saline ophthalmic solutions is present in an amount of from about 0.0002 to about 0.02 weight/volume percent. The aqueous saline ophthalmic solutions, in addition to the stabilized chlorine dioxide and the water which functions as a vehicle for the solutions, contains from about 0.5 to about 0.9 weight/volume percent of an ophthalmically acceptable inorganic salt and an effective minor amount of a buffering agent to stabilize the ophthalmic solution with an acceptable physiological pH. A method for preserving aqueous saline ophthalmic solutions utilizing stabilized chlorine dioxide is also set forth. |