Bio-Glo vs Fluorets vs SciMed: Fluorescein Strip Comparison Guide (2026)

TL;DR — Bio-Glo (Akorn), Fluorets (Bausch+Lomb), and SciMed are all USP-grade 1mg fluorescein sodium ophthalmic strips. Clinical performance is equivalent. The differences that matter for your practice: pack size (300 vs 100 strips), price per strip ($0.42–$0.75), availability, and how you order (direct manufacturer vs distributor channel). Solo practitioners often prefer SciMed's 100-pack with same-day US dispatch. High-volume hospitals lean toward Bio-Glo's 300-pack via McKesson or Henry Schein.

If you have ever stared at three brands of fluorescein strips and wondered whether the choice actually matters — this guide is the honest answer for 2026.

Are all fluorescein sodium ophthalmic strips the same?

Functionally, yes. All three brands compared here — Bio-Glo, Fluorets, and SciMed — contain USP-grade fluorescein sodium, 1mg per strip, individually sealed in sterile foil pouches, and intended for single-use ophthalmic diagnostic application.

The dye itself is identical: sodium fluorescein, USP, 1mg loading. Clinical efficacy for corneal abrasion detection, applanation tonometry, tear break-up time (TBUT) testing, Seidel test, and contact lens fitting is the same regardless of which brand you stock.

What differs is everything around the strip: who manufactures it, who you buy it from, how many strips come in a box, what it costs, how fast it ships, and what kind of support you get when you have a question.

Side-by-side comparison

Pricing reflects typical 2026 list prices. Distributor pricing varies by account; GPO members receive contracted rates. SciMed pricing applies to direct retail orders; clinic procurement pricing is lower at volume.

When does each brand make sense?

Bio-Glo (Akorn) — the volume-buyer's choice

Bio-Glo's 300-strip pack delivers the lowest per-strip cost among major brands. If your practice burns through 200+ strips per month — high-volume ophthalmology, hospital eye departments, large optometry chains — the 300-pack and existing distributor relationship through McKesson or Henry Schein make Bio-Glo the rational choice.

The trade-off is order friction. You need an active distributor account, often a minimum order value, and lead times of several business days. Acceptable when you're stocking quarterly; painful when you run out on a Monday and need 10 boxes by Friday.

Fluorets (Bausch+Lomb) — the formulary default

If your hospital system or ophthalmology group is already on a Bausch+Lomb formulary, Fluorets is the path of least resistance. Same clinical performance as the other two, sometimes preferred for the slight design variation of the strip tip.

Outside of B+L formulary contexts, Fluorets pricing typically sits above SciMed direct and above Bio-Glo's per-strip rate, with the same distributor friction.

SciMed — the direct-from-manufacturer choice

SciMed is a US-based medical device manufacturer (San Jose, California) that sells direct. There's no distributor markup, no account application, no minimum order. You order on the website, the box ships same business day from California, free shipping every order.

The 100-strip pack works for solo and small-practice ophthalmologists, optometrists, urgent care clinics, ED departments, and optometry training programs that don't want to tie up cash in a 300-strip Bio-Glo box that will sit on the shelf for a year.

For clinics that do use higher volumes, SciMed offers clinic procurement at 5, 10, 25, and 50-box tiers — contact clinic@scimedstore.com for a direct quote.

What about generic / unbranded strips?

Generic fluorescein sodium strips from online marketplaces (Amazon, eBay, AliExpress) can range from $15 to $50 per box of 100, often without verified USP grade, lot numbers, or expiry dating. For clinical use, this is a hard pass.

For ophthalmic diagnostics, you want:

• USP-grade fluorescein sodium — not a generic dye
• Lot number and expiry on the box — for traceability and storage compliance
• Sterile, individually wrapped strips — no shared exposure between patients
• FDA-registered manufacturer — Class II medical device classification
• Stable supply chain — you can re-order the same product 6 months from now

All three major brands above meet these criteria. Unverified generics may not.

Clinical applications — same across all three brands

For any of the three brands, 1mg fluorescein strips are used for:

• Corneal abrasion detection — fluorescein pools in epithelial defects, visible under cobalt blue light
• Applanation tonometry (Goldmann) — the gold standard for intraocular pressure measurement
• Tear break-up time (TBUT) — dry eye disease assessment, time from blink to first dry spot
• Seidel test — detecting aqueous leak after trauma or post-operatively
• Contact lens fitting — RGP and scleral lens lens-to-cornea fluorescein pattern assessment
• Foreign body detection — highlighting corneal surface irregularities
• Lacrimal patency / Jones I test — evaluating tear drainage

For deeper clinical guidance, see our complete fluorescein clinical guide.

Storage, shelf life, and sterility — same across brands

All three brands have a 36-month shelf life from manufacture when stored in original packaging at room temperature (15–25°C / 59–77°F), out of direct sunlight. Each strip is individually wrapped in a sterile foil pouch and intended for single-use.

Once a strip is removed from the pouch, use it immediately on one patient and discard. Do not store opened strips for later use — contamination risk is real. Read our full storage and shelf-life guide for FDA and USP standards.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bio-Glo the same as Akorn fluorescein strips?

Yes. Bio-Glo is Akorn Pharmaceuticals' brand name for their USP-grade fluorescein sodium ophthalmic strip. Akorn manufactures the strips at their Lake Forest, Illinois facility.

Are Fluorets and Fluorescein strips the same?

Fluorets is Bausch+Lomb's brand name for fluorescein sodium ophthalmic strips. The active ingredient is the same fluorescein sodium USP, 1mg per strip, that other brands use. Bausch+Lomb manufactures or contracts manufacture for the Fluorets product line.

Can I switch between brands mid-supply?

Yes. There is no clinical reason to stay loyal to one brand. The dye, concentration, and intended use are identical. Some clinicians prefer one brand's strip tip design (slightly more or less fenestrated), but the diagnostic result is the same.

What is the cheapest way to buy fluorescein strips for my clinic?

For low to moderate volume (under 200 strips/month), buying SciMed directly at the 5-box or 10-box bulk tier typically beats both Bio-Glo and Fluorets after distributor fees. For high volume (300+ strips/month), Bio-Glo's 300-pack per-strip rate is competitive but requires distributor account setup. Email clinic@scimedstore.com for a direct SciMed clinic quote.

Do all brands work for Goldmann applanation tonometry?

Yes. All three brands deliver the same fluorescein concentration suitable for Goldmann applanation. Wet the strip tip with anesthetic drop (proxymetacaine or oxybuprocaine), touch to the lower fornix, and measure under cobalt blue filter.

Are 2mg strips better than 1mg strips?

For routine ocular surface diagnostics — corneal staining, TBUT, applanation, contact lens assessment — 1mg is the clinical standard. 2mg strips deliver a higher dye load, sometimes preferred for fundus angiography photography or where deeper staining is needed. For typical slit lamp work, 1mg is sufficient and produces less residual eyelid and lash staining.

Bottom line

The three major US brands of fluorescein sodium ophthalmic strips — Bio-Glo (Akorn), Fluorets (Bausch+Lomb), and SciMed — deliver equivalent clinical results. The choice between them comes down to your buying volume, your existing distributor relationships, and how fast you need delivery.

For solo and small-practice clinicians who want direct-from-manufacturer simplicity, US same-day dispatch, free shipping, and no distributor account hassle, SciMed is built for that workflow. For high-volume hospital procurement on existing McKesson or Henry Schein contracts, Bio-Glo or Fluorets through your existing channel may be more efficient.

Shop SciMed Fluorescein Strips — 100/Box, $59.99, Free US Shipping →

Last updated: May 2026. Pricing is approximate retail/distributor list. All three brands listed are USP-grade fluorescein sodium 1mg ophthalmic diagnostic strips. SciMed is a US-based FDA-registered medical device manufacturer. Bio-Glo is a registered trademark of Akorn Operating Company LLC. Fluorets is a registered trademark of Bausch & Lomb. No affiliation, endorsement, or partnership with Akorn or Bausch+Lomb is claimed by SciMed.