Muro 128® Ointment 5%
Sodium Chloride 5% · ophthalmic ointment
Dry Eye/OSD
Approved uses
Corneal edema
1/4 inch ribbon inside the lower lid every 3 or 4 hours
OFF-LABELNot in the FDA label for this product
Recurrent corneal erosion, prophylaxis after the epithelium has healed
1/4 inch inside the lower lid at bedtime; the prophylaxis trial used once-nightly ointment, and the 1/4 inch amount is the labeled application
RCT · n=117 · no benefit
Common practice that controlled data do not support: a randomized trial in 117 patients found no difference in prophylaxis failure between once-nightly hypertonic saline ointment and paraffin ointment (p=0.17), which the authors took to suggest both act only as lubricants. A 2012 Cochrane review found no difference in objective signs of recurrence versus tetracycline or lubricating ointment in an included trial of 26 participants, and a 2021 Cornea review of 16 articles concluded the drug is not beneficial in recurrent corneal erosion.
Contraindications
Do not use except under the advice and supervision of a doctor
Available FormsOphthalmic ointment, 3.5 g tube, carton of two 3.5 g tubes, 1 g sample tube
Mechanism of ActionHyperosmotic agent: raises tonicity at the ocular surface above that of the corneal stroma, drawing fluid out of the edematous cornea and reducing corneal thickness. The ointment vehicle holds that salt load against the surface longer than a drop does, and the osmotic effect is temporary rather than curative.
Warnings & Precautions
- Persistent corneal edema: Reassess if the condition worsens or persists beyond 72 hours.
- Eye pain or vision change: Discontinue and evaluate; continued redness or irritation is also a stop-use criterion.
- Container contamination: Do not touch the tube tip to any surface; replace the cap after use.
Common Side Effects
- Ocular: Transient burning and irritation on instillation; the label gives no frequency.
- Ointment tolerability: Stickiness, stinging, blurring and foreign body sensation were more frequent with a 6% ointment than with 5% drops in a 40-eye randomized crossover trial.
- Class safety: No serious complications reported with topical ocular hypertonic saline in a 2021 Cornea review of 16 articles.
Pregnancy & LactationLimited data; potential risks to the fetus not well established
Pediatric UseNo studies