Ophthalmic irrigating solutions are disclosed. The ophthalmic irrigating solution comprises: a) &gamma；-polyglutamic acid (&gamma；-PGA) and/or salt thereof in an amount effective to increase the viscosity of the irrigating solution； and b) an ophthalmically acceptable aqueous vehicle for the &gamma；-PGA and/or salt thereof. Also disclosed is a method of irrigating ocular tissues of a patient, in which the method comprises introducing to the ocular tissues of the patient an ophthalmic irrigating solution comprising &gamma；-PGA) and/or salt thereof in an amount sufficient to irrigate the ocular tissues of the patient.
