OTC drop news: Soothe Xtra Hydration launched

Bausch & Lomb has launched a new preserved over-the-counter drop called Soothe Xtra Hydration. The active ingredients are a very slightly reduced concentration of the same actives as the basic Soothe preservative-free drops. It is not yet listed in B&L's website, but it is in drugstores and online.

Here's a quick run-down of the active ingredients of all three products currently sold under the Soothe brand:

Soothe XP Emollient Eye Drops [preserved]: Light mineral oil (1%), mineral oil (4.5%)
(This is the original milky-looking Soothe that used to be sold in the purple and orange box before B&L bought it from Alimera. It was re-named Soothe XP after the acquisition.)

Soothe Lubricant Eye Drops [preservative-free]: Glycerin (0.6%), propylene glycol (0.6%)
(This was added to the lineup when the original Soothe became Soothe XP.)

Soothe Xtra Hydration [preserved]: Glycerin (0.55%), propylene glycol (0.55%)
(This is the one just announced.)

I guess I'd better put the press release here too. Takes some imagination to squeeze four paragraphs about a drop that's not new enough in concept to hazard listing the ingredients....

Marketwire, May 4
Bausch + Lomb Introduces New Soothe® Xtra Hydration Dry Eye Therapy Lubricant Eye Drops

MADISON, NJ--(Marketwire - May 4, 2010) - Bausch + Lomb today announced the U.S. launch of new Soothe® Xtra Hydration lubricant eye drops. Building on the success of the Soothe XP Xtra Protection formula, new Soothe Xtra Hydration provides a comprehensive over-the-counter portfolio for patients with dry eyes.
The Soothe portfolio is now aligned with the most recent international Dry Eye Workshop (DEWS) sponsored by the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society. DEWS created a new definition of dry eye and helped develop two major classifications of dry eye -- aqueous-deficient dry eye and evaporative dry eye.
New Soothe Xtra Hydration, for aqueous-deficient dry eye therapy, moisturizes and restores the deficient aqueous and mucin layers of the tear film to provide lasting hydration and comfort. It will be available at major retailers in May.
Soothe XP Xtra Protection, for evaporative dry eye therapy, re-establishes the lipid layer of the tear film to provide up to eight hours of relief. The product is widely available at major retailers.