iVIZIA vs. Thealoz DUO eye drops - are they the same thing?
iVIZIA vs. Thealoz DUO eye drops - are they the same thing?
Thealoz Duo is a worldwide eye drop brand but is not formally marketed in the United States. Théa U.S. sells the nearly-identical formula under the over-the-counter brand iVIZIA™
Although nearly identical, iVIZIA drops are FDA approved (and are widely stocked at Amazon, CVS, Walgreens and other U.S. retailers) while Thealoz Duo is not FDA-listed.
Why you won’t see “Thealoz Duo” on U.S. pharmacy shelves
Credit: Although mEYEspa does not typically use AI for content, the research for this table was assisted by ChatGPT.
| Key point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Regulatory classification | In Europe/Canada, Thealoz Duo (trehalose 3 % + sodium hyaluronate 0.15 %) is registered as a Class IIa medical device. In the U.S., OTC eye-lubricant products must either (1) fit the FDA’s ophthalmic OTC monograph or (2) have an approved NDA. Trehalose + HA alone is not an OTC-monograph active ingredient. |
| Manufacturer's work-around for the U.S. market | Théa simply added 0.5 % povidone (a monograph-listed lubricant) as the active ingredient and kept trehalose + HA as “inactive” supports. That reformulated product is branded iVIZIA™ Lubricant Eye Drops/Gel. |
| Launch in the U.S. | iVIZIA was introduced nationwide in 2022 and placed in >26 000 retail outlets by July that year (businesswire.com). |
| Formulation equivalence | Apart from the povidone, iVIZIA’s trehalose/HA concentrations are the same as Thealoz Duo; the U.S. Pharmacist launch article explicitly notes this (uspharmacist.com). |
| Current availability |
iVIZIA drops and single-use gel vials are in stock everywhere in USA. Thealoz Duo occasionally appears on eBay or cross-border sites, but those sales are “personal-import” channels and carry the usual FDA/CBP import-for-personal-use caveats. ** mEYEspa does not sell Thealoz DUO into the USA from our site |
Closest substitute for Thealoz DUO for US customers or Canadians in the USA
iVIZIA Lubricant Eye Drops (multi-dose ABAK bottle) or iVIZIA Lubricant Eye Gel (PF single-use vials). This provides the same trehalose-plus-HA benefits with the added viscosity of povidone and full FDA OTC compliance.
Related Topics: How can non-preserved eyedrops like Thealoz DUO last longer that preserved?, Acute vs. Chronic Dry Eye, Dry Eye Basics
Studies supporting the use of Sodium Hyaluronate / Hyaluronic Acid for the treatment of Dry eye:
NIH National Library of Medicine 2022 > Hyaluronic acid in the treatment of dry eye disease,
ResearchGate 2006 > Effectiveness of sodium hyaluronate eyedrops in the treatment of dry eye
Clinical Ophthalmology 2018 > Trehalose/hyaluronate eyedrop effects on
ocular surface inflammatory markers and mucin
expression in dry eye patients
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