Definition of eye drops

The term "eye drops" originated in the late 19th century as a medical innovation to treat eye diseases. Before the development of bottled eye drops, patients had to use a sponge soaked in a medication solution to moisten and soothe their eyes. The first bottled eye drops were invented by a German pharmaceutical company called Merck in 1887. The company's ophthalmologist, Carl von Noorden, created the first solution of eye drops, containing sodium chloride, to treat keratitis, a disease that causes inflammation of the cornea. In 1899, the company patented a new formula that included sodium hyaluronate, which became known as hyaluronic acid, to improve the viscosity and retention time of the solution in the eye. The name "eye drops" was adapted from the previous term "eye wash," which referred to a larger quantity of medication used to flush the eye or to rinse it out. The smaller volume for administration made the term "eye drops" more appropriate to describe the new product. The introduction of eye drops had a significant impact on ophthalmology, offering new treatment options for eye diseases and reducing patients' discomfort with the previous methods. From different molecular sizes to various formulations, eye drops have ever since then been continuously advanced to match the diverse clinical indications and patient needs. In conclusion, eye drops evolved from a soaked sponge to a bottle, offering significant benefits to eye care over time, and have remained a fundamental treatment for eye diseases, ever since the inception of the concept in the late 19th century.