Hyaluronic acid in the eye

Most people know hyaluronic acid primarily as a substance that works against wrinkles in creams or in the form of an injection. However, hyaluronic acid is also used in many other areas, including for dry or irritated eyes.

Heating air and frost dry out the eyes

Many people suffer from dry, reddened or irritated eyes, especially in winter. The reason: the air becomes drier in winter. Frosty temperatures mean that there is less moisture in the air outside. Indoors, heaters dry out the air even more. The dry air causes many people to develop chapped and cracked lips or dry, sometimes even flaky skin. Hair becomes electrically charged more quickly and stands out stubbornly. Eyes also dry out. Normally, every time we blink, a thin film of tears covers our eyes to protect and moisturize them. However, the dry air continuously removes moisture from the eyes. As a result, the protective film is missing. The consequences are dry eyes. The drying out of the eye can lead to a foreign body sensation. You have to blink constantly without the eye being better moisturized. It feels scratchy, the eyes burn or become red.

Hyaluronic acid moisturizes and soothes the eyes

Hyaluronic acid is able to bind very large quantities of water. One gram of hyaluronic acid can absorb up to six liters of water. This makes hyaluronic acid ideal for use on the eye. Eye drops containing hyaluronic acid are often used to treat dry and burning eyes. These ensure that a stable and long-lasting film of fluid forms on the eye. This moisturizes the dry eye. At the same time, hyaluronic acid is also completely colorless, so that vision is not impaired after using products with hyaluronic acid. However, these properties are not only used in medical eye drops and eye care products. Hyaluronic acid is also often contained in cleaning and care solutions for contact lenses. It protects the lenses from drying out and keeps them in a stable shape. Ophthalmologists not only use hyaluronic acid to moisturize the eye, but also use it during eye procedures and operations.

Hyaluronic acid can also act on the eyes from the inside

There is a whole range of food supplements that contain hyaluronic acid. Once ingested, the hyaluronic acid is distributed throughout the body and works from the inside out. It does this in various places: In the body, hyaluronic acid ensures that the skin and mucous membranes can store water and thus remain firm and elastic. In the cartilage of the joints, hyaluronic acid acts as a “lubricant” and keeps the joints flexible. The mucous membranes of the nose and eyes are kept moist. This is particularly important in winter when eyes and skin are dry. However, the hyaluronic acid content in the body also generally decreases from the age of 25; at 40, only half of the original amount is still present. As a result, many people are then more prone to dry skin, dry eyes and joint problems. Supplying hyaluronic acid can help here. Hyaluronic acid can therefore not only have a soothing and moisturizing effect on dry eyes from the outside, it can also do this from the inside.