Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Celluvisc 0.5% w/v, eye drops, solution, unit dose
⚠ This medicine appears to have been discontinued
The electronic medicines compendium (emc) no longer publishes a Summary of Product Characteristics for this product, which usually means it is no longer marketed in the UK. The patient leaflet below is kept for reference, but the product may not be available.
If you were prescribed this medicine, other products containing Carmellose sodium may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.
What it is and what it is used for
for
CELLUVISC® is a substitute for tears, and contains the lubricant called carmellose sodium. It is used for the treatment of the symptoms of dry eye (such as soreness, burning, irritation or dryness) caused by you not producing enough tears to keep the eye wet. 2.
What you need to know before you take it
e CELLUVISC®
Do not use CELLUVISC®
- If you are hypersensitive (allergic) to carmellose sodium or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). Warnings and precautions
- If irritation, pain, redness or changes in vision occur or if you feel your condition is getting worse, stop taking this medicine and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Other medicines and CELLUVISC® Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. If you are using other eye drops, leave at least 15 minutes between putting in the other drops and CELLUVISC®.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding You can use CELLUVISC® if you are pregnant and when you are breast-feeding. Driving and using machines CELLUVISC® may cause temporary blurring of vision. If you do experience temporary blurring, do not drive or use machines until your sight is clear. Read all the information in this leaflet before using CELLUVISC®. If you are unsure about anything, discuss it with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. 3.
How to take it
CELLUVISC®
Always use this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor, pharmacist or nurse has told you. Check with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are not sure. The recommended dose is 1-2 drops of CELLUVISC® in the affected eye/each affected eye, 4 times a day or as often as needed. You do not need to remove contact lenses before using CELLUVISC®. Make sure that the single-dose container is intact before use. The solution should be used immediately after opening. To avoid contamination or possible eye injury, do not let the open-end of the single-dose container touch your eye or anything else. Wash your hands before use.
1. Tear one single-dose container from the strip. 2. Hold the single-dose container upright (with the top uppermost) and twist off the top. 3. Gently pull down the lower eyelid to form a pocket. Turn the single-dose container upside down and squeeze it to release one drop into each eye. Blink your eyes a few times. Do not re-use the single-dose container even if there is some solution left. It is most important that you throw it away and do not keep it. If you use more CELLUVISC® than you should It will not cause you any harm. If you are worried, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
If you forget to use CELLUVISC® Use a single drop in each eye that needs treatment as soon as you remember, and then go back to your regular routine. Do not use a large number of drops to make up for forgetting to put drops in your eye or eyes earlier. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. 4.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The side effects are classified into the following categories, depending on how often they occur: Very common Common Uncommon Rare Very rare Not known
may affect more than 1 in 10 people may affect up to 1 in 10 people may affect up to 1 in 100 people may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people frequency cannot be estimated from the available data
The following side effects may be seen with CELLUVISC® : Common Not known
Eye irritation (including burning and discomfort), eye pain, itchy eyes, visual disturbance. Allergic reactions (including eye allergy), blurred vision, sticky eye, watery eye, redness of the eye, eye injury to the surface of the eye due to the tip of the vial touching the eye during use.
Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any
Possible side effects
not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme, Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine. 5.
How to store it
CELLUVISC®
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not store above 25°C. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date (use by date) which is stated on the single-dose container tab and the carton after EXP:. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not use if CELLUVISC® packaging shows evidence of tampering. Do not use if solution changes colour or becomes cloudy. Used CELLUVISC® eye drop containers can be disposed of as household waste. Any unused containers can be returned to the pharmacist or he can tell you how to dispose of them safely (in order to protect the environment). 6.
Contents of the pack and other information
What CELLUVISC® contains
- The active ingredient is carmellose sodium 5 mg/ml.
- The other ingredients are sodium chloride, sodium lactate, potassium chloride, calcium chloride dihydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate and purified water. Small amounts of sodium hydroxide or hydrochloric acid may be added to bring the solution to the correct pH (a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the solution). The ingredients and the amount used in CELLUVISC® were chosen to match what appears in tears produced naturally by the eye. What CELLUVISC® looks like and contents of the pack CELLUVISC® is a clear, colourless to pale yellow eye drops solution in a small seethrough (bubble-like) casing (known as a 'single-dose container'). The single-dose container has a twist-off top. Each single-dose container contains 0.4 ml of eye drops solution. Each pack contains 5, 30 or 90 single-dose containers. Not all pack sizes may be marketed. Marketing Authorisation Holder AbbVie Ltd. Maidenhead SL6 4UB UK Manufacturer Allergan Pharmaceuticals Ireland Castlebar Road Westport County Mayo Ireland This leaflet was last revised in 06/2024.
Frequently asked questions about Celluvisc 0.5% w/v, eye drops, solution, unit dose
How do I take Celluvisc 0.5% w/v, eye drops, solution, unit dose?
Celluvisc 0.5% w/v, eye drops, solution, unit dose comes as eye drops. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.
What is the active substance in Celluvisc 0.5% w/v, eye drops, solution, unit dose?
The active substance in Celluvisc 0.5% w/v, eye drops, solution, unit dose is carmellose sodium.
Are there equivalent medicines to Celluvisc 0.5% w/v, eye drops, solution, unit dose?
Medicines with the same active substance, strength and form include: Celluvisc 1.0% w/v Eye drops, solution, unit dose. They are interchangeable only if your prescriber or pharmacist says so.
Where does this information come from?
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Celluvisc 0.5% w/v, eye drops, solution, unit dose, as published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). The version printed inside your medicine’s packaging is the one that applies to you.
Can I get Celluvisc 0.5% w/v, eye drops, solution, unit dose without a prescription?
Whether a medicine is available over the counter or on prescription only depends on its licence. Check the leaflet, or ask your pharmacist — they can tell you straight away.
About this leaflet
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
- Source: electronic medicines compendium (emc), Datapharm
- Active substance: carmellose sodium
- Official document: view the original leaflet on emc →
⚕For healthcare professionals — Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)Full SmPC: dosage, interactions, contraindications, warnings+
4.1. Therapeutic indications
Tear substitute. Treatment of the symptoms of dry eye.
4.2. Posology and method of administration
Instil 1-2 drops in the affected eye/s 4 times a day or as needed.Ensure that the single-dose container is intact before use. The eye drop solution should be used immediately after opening.To avoid contamination or possible eye injury, do not touch tip of the bottle or vial to any surface and avoid contact with the eye.If Celluvisc is concomitantly used with other ocular eye medications there must be an interval of at least 15 minutes between the two medications (as displacement of a medication may occur).The eye drops may be used with contact lenses.Paediatric populationThe safety and efficacy of Celluvisc in children and adolescents have been established by clinical experience, but no clinical trial data are available. The posology recommended in adults is recommended in the paediatric population.
4.3. Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to carmellose sodium or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use
If irritation, pain, redness or changes in vision occur or if the patient's condition is worsened treatment discontinuation should be considered and a new assessment made.
4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
None known.For the use of concomitant ocular products, see section 4.2.
4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy and Breast-feeding
Due to the negligible systemic exposure and the lack of pharmacological activity Celluvisc can be used during pregnancy and breast-feeding.
4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines
Celluvisc may cause transient blurring of vision which may impair the ability to drive or operate machines. The patient should wait until their vision has cleared before driving or using machinery.
4.8. Undesirable effects
The frequency of adverse reactions documented during clinical trials is given. The frequency is defined as follows: Very Common (≥ 1/10); Common (≥1/100, <1/10); Uncommon (≥1/1,000, <1/100); Rare (≥1/10,000, <1/1,000); Very Rare (<1/10,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). Eye disorders:
Common: Eye irritation (including burning and discomfort), eye pain, eye pruritus, visual disturbance.Postmarketing ExperienceThe following additional adverse reactions have been identified during postmarketing use of Celluvisc in clinical practice. Because postmarketing reporting of these reactions is voluntary and from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate the frequency of these reactions. Immune System Disorders:
Hypersensitivity including eye allergy. Eye Disorders:
Blurred vision, eye discharge, lacrimation increased, ocular hyperemia. Injury, Poisons and Procedural Complications:
Superficial injury of eye (from the vial tip touching the eye during administration) and/or corneal abrasion. Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
4.9. Overdose
Accidental overdose will present no hazard.
💬 Ask about this leaflet
Ask anything about Celluvisc 0.5% w/v, eye drops, solution, unit dose. The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.
Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.