The vitamin A ophthalmic ointment remains a reference in the treatment of certain ocular disorders, in particular for corneal repair and the management of the severe eye dryness. Since the announcement of its cessation of marketing in June 2025, many questions have emerged, both on its efficiency on the alternatives available. We propose you to explore together what this ointment represents, its precise uses, the opinions gathered from patients and specialists, as well as the possible solutions to continue to care for your eyes in complete serenity.
- The specific composition and key benefits of vitamin A ointment
- How to use and precautions for successful treatment
- Reasons for withdrawal from the market and stock management
- Existing effective alternatives and their place in eye care
- Patient feedback and tips for choosing your solution
Let's go to the discovery of a recognized ophthalmic treatment, taking your gaze with all the knowledge necessary to better understand the issues related to this ointment and its substitutes.
Understanding vitamin A ophthalmic ointment: composition, indications and functioning
The vitamin A ophthalmic ointment is essentially an eye cream enriched with retinol, an active form of vitamin A particularly effective for the care of the eye mucosa. Its special oily texture ensures prolonged contact with the cornea, thus promoting a slow and continuous absorption of the active substance, which clearly distinguishes it from eye drops that evaporate or flow faster.
This Galenic specificity makes the ointment ideal for nocturnal applications, a situation where the long-lasting protection of the lacrymal film has its full meaning. Patients with severe eye dryness, often associated with lacrimal insufficiency, find real relief in this treatment thanks to the restorative action of retinol. Vitamin A accelerates cell regeneration, particularly in the cornea, promoting healing and restoration of damaged mucous membranes, as may be the case after surgery or neurotrophic ulcers.
The main indications of this ointment include:
- Treatment of severe dry syndromes, where conventional artificial tears are no longer sufficient.
- Management of corneal healing disorders, including after injury or intervention.
- Care of corneal neurotrophic ulcers, complex pathologies requiring targeted remedial action.
- Protection of the cornea in the event of palpebrale anomalies hindering complete eye closure.
In practice, this ointment is intended for a wide spectrum of patients, from elderly people to those suffering from systemic diseases such as Sjögren syndrome or with diabetes-related trophic disorders. Vitamin A plays a fundamental role in maintaining eye health: by stimulating the production of mucins, it helps stabilize the lacrymal film, an essential element to avoid theeye inflammation and guarantee lasting comfort.
To realize the effectiveness of this ointment, users often show a marked improvement in the first few weeks, with nocturnal comfort and less pain at awakening. The oily texture may sometimes seem unpleasant, but it is inseparable from the longevity of the treatment, a key parameter for effective cornea repair.
Method of use and essential precautions to optimize eye treatment
The proper use of the ophthalmic ointment vitamin A is a key factor in ensuring its efficiency and limit side effects. We always invite our readers to follow the instructions prescribed by their ophthalmologist and to adopt impeccable hygiene before each application.
Here are the key steps for a successful application:
- Wash hands thoroughly to avoid bacterial contamination.
- Lightly warm the tube in the hands to facilitate the extrudation of the product.
- Incline the head back and gently lower the lower eyelid.
- Place an ointment ribbon about 1 cm in the conjunctival pocket.
- Slowly close the eye by making movements to distribute the ointment.
- Avoid blinking or rubbing the eyes immediately after.
The frequency of application varies according to the severity of the disorder: from 1 to 3 times a day, with a preference for evening use to exploit the particularly protective fatty texture during sleep. Some patients benefit from prolonged treatment over several months, especially in chronic or post-surgical cases.
We stress several precautions:
- Never touch the tip of the tube to the eyes or fingers to prevent the introduction of bacteria.
- Discard the tube 28 days after opening to avoid the risk of infection.
- Remove the contact lenses before application and wait at least 30 minutes before putting them back.
- Avoid driving or using machines requiring perfect vision within 20-30 minutes, due to the temporary veil that the ointment can produce.
- Report any retinoid-based oral therapy to your doctor to avoid the risk of hypervitaminosis.
Side effects observed are most frequently momentary tingling, transient blurred vision, or in some rare cases allergic reactions to lanoline, the main ingredient of the fat base. These manifestations are generally bearable and do not call into question the use of treatment when they are ad hoc.
Decryption of the cessation of the marketing of vitamin A Dulcis and its concrete impacts
The withdrawal of the vitamin A Dulcis ophthalmic ointment At the end of June 2025 there was a real stir in the medical community and among the patients who regularly benefited from it. This discreet but noble medicine, sold to more than 130,000 tubes each month, was not abandoned for safety or inefficiency reasons, but due to manufacturing-related industrial constraints. This decision of the Abbvie laboratory led to a rigorous management of the remaining stocks by the National Drug Safety Agency (ANSM) in order to ensure therapeutic continuity in the most severe cases.
NANSM has issued several recommendations to preserve vitamin A ointment reserves:
- Restrictions on prescriptions for patients with severe eye disorders, such as severe dry syndromes, neurotrophic ulcers, or complicated corneal healing.
- Limitation of pharmacy delivery at the « fair quantity » if required, on presentation of an order of less than one year.
- Recommendation for physicians to first opt for less specific alternatives in case of less severe symptoms.
- Active search for laboratories that may resume marketing or import equivalents.
This has highlighted the importance of vitamin A ointment for some patients without effective alternatives, but also the limitations of our pharmaceutical system regarding the sustainability of niche treatments. From a health point of view, this rationalization requires reasonable use and strict monitoring to avoid ruptures at risk to the eye health of certain fragile audiences.
For example, a patient followed for neurotrophic ulcer will not be able to afford the use of a product that is less active or less well tolerated. Thus, healthcare professionals are encouraged to assess the benefit-risk balance well before recommending an alternative.
Effective Alternatives to Vitamin A Ophthalmic Ointment: Current Options and Choice Tips
In the context of the withdrawal of vitamin A Dulcis, several therapeutic options stand out, although none perfectly reproduces the full profile of the original ointment. The alternatives available are divided mainly between:
- Other vitamin ointments: Vital and VitA Night, imported from Switzerland or Germany, also containing vitamin A but not reimbursed.
- Non-vitamin moisturizing medical devices adapted as Xailin Night or Lacrigel, especially for night care, offering prolonged hydration thanks to carbomer.
- Gels and eye drops based on hyaluronic acid or dexpanthenol, reimbursed and used for moderate eye dryness.
To compare these alternatives, here is an easy-to-see synthetic table:
| Product | Active principle | Refund | Approximate price | Recommended use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VitA Night | Vitamin A | No | 15-20 € | Night treatment for severe droughts |
| Vital | Vitamin A | No | 12-18 € | Alternative in case of unavailability |
| Xailin Night | Carbomer | No | 10-15 € | Night hydration without vitamin A |
| Lacrigel | Carbomer | Yes | 8-12 € | Moderate droughts |
| Hyabak | Hyaluronic acid | Yes | 6-10 € | Light to moderate droughts |
In choosing an alternative, the patient's profile, the severity of the symptoms, and the tolerance to preservatives should be taken into account. Some products contain preservatives that can aggravate eye inflammation in sensitive people, hence the importance of personalized prescription and regular follow-up.
We note that the use of vitamin alternatives is mainly for severe cases unable to benefit from other options. For moderate droughts, hyaluronic acid gels offer satisfactory comfort for daily use, with a good safety profile. The balance between efficacy and cost remains an essential criterion for many users in their therapeutic approaches.
Patient Reviews and Testimonials: A Look at the Effectiveness and Tolerance of Available Treatments
In our role as sports coaches and ambassadors of women's well-being, we are regularly asked by our community via Madamsport.fr to shed light on solutions adapted to eye conditions, especially after the cessation of vitamin A Dulcis. The feedback we collect shows a wide variety of experiences, influenced by the level of severity, duration of treatment and individual sensitivity.
The following are the recurring points noted in the notices:
- Efficiency: Vitamin ointment A original is unanimously recognized for its ability to quickly restore comfort and promote healing, especially in severe forms. Imported vitamin alternatives offer visible results, but some patients report lower efficacy or slower effect.
- Tolerance: The oily texture is sometimes considered unpleasant, but its removal often leads to a marked deterioration of comfort. Products without preservatives like Xailin Night are popular for their softness but not always suitable for complex disorders.
- Psychological impact: The sudden discontinuation of the historic medicine has caused concern, especially in chronic patients, stressing the importance of adequate accompaniment in the transition to other treatments.
We encourage everyone to focus on an open dialogue with their health care professional to adjust treatment based on personal feedback and specific tolerance. Self-medication via online shopping at foreign sites is to be avoided to prevent any risk of contamination or breakdown of the cold chain.
Eye well-being also requires comprehensive management including feeding, hydration, protection against environmental attacks (wind, screen) and regular breaks during prolonged visual activities.
