mineral oils

Mineral oils, specifically formulated as cationic oil-in-water emulsions such as Cationorm, are used as topical ophthalmic lubricants for the symptomatic treatment of dry eye disease (DED). These formulations function by replenishing and stabilizing the lipid layer of the tear film, which significantly reduces tear evaporation and protects the ocular surface from desiccation and irritation. Unlike immunomodulatory agents that target specific inflammatory pathways, mineral oils act through a physical mechanism to provide long-lasting relief from symptoms like burning, itching, and foreign body sensation. In clinical research, such as the University of New South Wales trial (NCT06898853), mineral oil-based drops are frequently utilized as active comparators or supportive therapies to evaluate the efficacy of anti-inflammatory treatments like cyclosporine.

Brand names

Cationorm

Other names

mineral oil eye dropslubricating eye dropsartificial tearsliquid paraffinlight liquid paraffinparaffinum liquidum