For patients looking to remove irritants and debris from their lids and lashes or just cleanse them for optimal hygiene, there are many options to choose from, and it can be quite confusing. One of the most effective and popular choices recommended by other eye care professionals is a hypochlorous acid (HOCl) formula, and here’s why.

What Is Hypochlorous Acid?

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a weak acid know for its disinfecting properties. It’s produced by the body, specifically the white blood cells as a defense mechanism against pathogens. HOCl has been demonstrated to be effective against a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. It’s considered a safe, gentle, and effective antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral tool while also penetrating biofilm, killing underlying pathogens.

While HOCl is made inside the body, its potent disinfecting power makes it a prime candidate for outside applications like wound care, sanitization, and even water treatment. In fact, it was used as an antiseptic for cleansing the wounds of soldiers in World War 1 and later would be used to sanitize fruits and vegetables and even as an alternative disinfectant during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What Are the Flaws?

There are tons of great benefits to HOCl, but it’s a notoriously unstable ingredient, making it difficult to find a pure bottled product. To create HOCl outside the body, there are two manufacturing processes: electrolysis and chemical. Electorlysis is the most common method, but it can lead to impurities like chlorine gas, sodium hypochlorite (i.e., bleach), and other oxidants. Additionally, this method doesn’t maintain HOCl concentration.

The other method for producing HOCl is a purely chemical process using salts and acid that results in the purest form of HOCl outside the body. This unique and patented process produces a 99.9% HOCl solution with no impurities, byproducts, or preservatives. However, this is a more exclusive process, with few brands utilizing it for their production.

Which HOCl Can I Trust?

If you’re looking for a pure HOCl lid and lash cleansing spray that you can prescribe for your patients confidently, Avenova is the answer. Its patent formulation is completely unique and utilizings superior manufacturing methods and packaging to ensure the purest, most concentrated HOCl with no bleach byproducts or other impurities. It’s the #1 HOCL lid and lash cleanser recommended by other doctors.

Avenova has been clinically proven to provide broad antimicrobial spectrum in 60 seconds after application, reducing bacteria, fungi, and viruses by 99.9%, and it remains active with a toxicity level 1000x lower than Betadine. Additionally, Avenova has also been demonstrated to neutralize lipase, while other lid scrubs exhibited results similar to sterile water (the negative control of the study).

Avenova comes in a glass bottle with its plastic spray applicator separate to ensure purity upon use. Other products use plastic bottles which can leach into the solution and degrade the HOCl potency. With its ultra-pure and gentle formula, Avenova can help your patients with:

• Occasional dry eye
• Styes
• Blepharitis
• Demodex
• Contact lens discomfort
• Allergies
• General eye health and hygiene
• Pre- and post-operations
• Procedures

Are you ready to help your patients find their way to clean, healthy lids and lashes without irritation? Bring Avenova into your practice today!