Dry eyes seem normal but they are actually quite a trouble. Not you alone are suffering from dry eyes. According to the famous eye doctor Ranjodh S. Boparai, MD, over 300 million people all over the world suffer from dry eyes. If ignored, dry eyes can ultimately start altering your daily life and your mental and emotional well-being.
Luckily, quality eye drops often provide immediate relief. A variety of eye drops for dry eyes are available in the market for dry eyes for you to choose from. Our experts at Vision Concern did a lot of research and discussion with other experts for them to come up with products that will treat dry eyes along with other issues.
Let’s walk through the different types of eye drops and their compatibility with contact lenses, as well as the advantages of preservative-free formulations. We will also highlight some of the top brands of eye drops that will instantly provide dry eye relief.
There is a vast spectrum of eye drops, each to restore your eye’s natural moisture and provide relief from dry eyes. Here are the main types that you must know if you need one:
Working just like natural tears, artificial tear drops offer lubrication and quick relief from dry eyes. They work great for mild dry eyes or discomfort that happens because of environmental factors.
Some people have extremely sensitive eyes and need to use eye drops frequently. In such cases, they need preservative-free drops that act as a gentle solution. These eye drops reduce the risk of irritation that may be caused by certain preservatives, mainly when you need to use them many times a day.
There is no denying that these eyedrops’ shelf life is lesser compared to that of drops having preservatives. But these drops give chronic dry eyes more relief since preservatives can sometimes do more harm than good for people with extreme conditions.
Often, dry eyes can happen from inflammation on the eye’s surface. Anti-inflammatory drops such as cyclosporine can help minimize this underlying cause and offer long-term relief to people with chronic dry eyes.
Confused about whether you should go for prescription or non-prescription eye drops? Prescription eye drops provide instant relief for temporary dryness. You can easily get them to soothe eyes that are dry from environmental conditions.
Prescription eye drops provide a strong solution for extreme or chronic dry eye conditions that artificial tears can not treat.
Here are some differences that might make you clear between these two eye drops:
| Feature | Prescription Eye Drops | Non-Prescription Eye Drops |
|---|---|---|
| Prescription | Needs a doctor’s prescription | You can buy it without a doctor’s prescription |
| Ingredients Strength | Strong medications | Milder Ingredients |
| Aim | Treat certain extreme eye conditions like glaucoma, allergies, and infection | Relieve milder eye irritations like dry eyes, redness, etc |
| Side Effects | A doctor’s prescription is required because it may have some potential side effects | Safe for occasional use. Overuse may cause some side effects |
| Consultation | Consultation with an eye care professional is needed | No need for consultation |
For individuals wearing contact lenses, dry eyes can be extremely challenging. But it does not mean there is not any solution to it. Certain eye drops have been designed particularly for use with contact lenses and they will lubricate your eyes without any damage to the lens material.
Some brands often call their products lens-compatible. You can also check terms like ‘’safe for contact lenses’’ or ‘’lens-friendly’’ on their boxes. If you are still unsure, you can contact an eye care professional.
You can also contact Vision Concern for some special contact lenses that are designed for dry eyes. These contact lenses can help ease dryness and improve overall eye comfort.
A very reputable brand, the Systane eye drops are a complete package. They are preservative-free and consist of active ingredients like propylene glycol which is safe even for sensitive eyes. Other pros of this eye drop are immediate relief, lubrication, and lasting comfort.
The multipurpose bottle of Systane comes with an antiseptic package instead of most preservative-free drops, which come in a single-use fashion. In brief, 1-2 drops can be used as needed.
For individuals with occasional moderate dry eye, Refresh Tears Lubricant Eye Drops work like magic. These high-quality and affordable eye drops mimic natural tears and offer quick and temporary relief from dryness and sensitivity. It is also contact lens-friendly.
These drops are value for money and a great choice for someone who uses eye drops often. These eye drops are also worth the praise with Carboxymethylcellulose sodium being the main ingredient.
This is a holy grail in the form of eye drops for contact lens wearers. Two of the much milder and moisturizing ingredients, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid, work exactly like real tears for your dry eyes. These drops take moisture from the environment to your eyes. Even the most sensitive eyes benefit from these gentle ingredients.
At first, we mentioned that these drops are great for anyone wearing contact lenses. Besides that, it is also great for those who do not wear contact lenses. The antioxidants in the drops fight off environmental pollutants that irritate the eyes.
Overnight dry eyes need treatments that last longer than some ordinary dry eyes. In this case, you require thicker eye ointments because thinner eye drops fall short. Here, we choose Optase HyloNight Eye Ointment which has petrolatum and lanolin to protect the eye and retain moisture throughout the night.
Some eye ointments irritate sensitive eyelid skin but this is gentle and extremely safe for night use. Just remember that this product may have peanut oil as an ingredient so if you have allergies, look elsewhere. If you’re wondering how much to apply, just take ¼ inch of ointment to the inner lower lid every night.
If you have recently had Lasik surgery and are reluctant to wear just any eye drops, Blink Tears Lubricating Eye Drops are your thing. But that does not mean you can not use it for dry eyes in general. Because your eye doctor will prescribe an antibiotic or steroid drops for immediate use after surgery, any eye drops you use after that must be prescribed by them.
Just use 1-2 drops as per your need and that’s enough. These affordable eye drops are safe for Lasik patients and great supporters during the recovery phase.
Let's first acknowledge the fact that CorneaCare Recover Eye Drops would be the premium choice when selecting preservative-free tears because this particular formulation is made up of mainly hyaluronic acid and glycerine. Both of these add and maintain moisture naturally in the eyes. The emollient povidone reduces strain and prevents irritation.
Talking about the bottle of these drops, it has a patented one-way valve technology that lets tears flow out preventing germs from getting inside. That keeps the solution safe and sterile for about 3 months. Also, lens-wearers can use these drops.
The most amazing thing about TheraTears Extra Dry Eye Therapy is that it contains five important electrolytes found in natural tears that restore salt imbalance, relieving dry and irritated eyes.
The formula was designed to take care of dry eyes without burning or stinging upon application, which is a great choice for sensitive eyes. It is, however, unclear if the drops are good for contact lenses so a consultation with your doctor would be great.
Dry eye is considered a chronic disease and does not have a cure. Environmental and personal factors (like lack of sleep, stress, and anxiety) play a major role in the patient's dry eye symptoms. If one day you sleep well for 9 hours, relaxed and it's raining, chances are you'll feel better that day than in winter with heating in a house closed with anxiety and you've slept 3 hours.
The patient must observe and note down the factors responsible for aggravating his manifestations so that he can avoid them and increase the frequency at which he instills artificial tears. So, for example, if you wake up one day realizing that last night you just had a little bit of sleep, you can take a nap to make sure that your eyes rest and compensate for what you lost during the night.
Dry eyes might cause severe discomfort and potential long-term damage to the eyes if not treated. Therefore, you need good eye drops to get relief from this chronic issue. Vision Concern has mentioned different types of eye drops for use in dry eyes, including prescription and non-prescription formulations.
It particularly emphasizes selecting the appropriate type of eye drop for each need and gives insights into the advantages of preservative-free formulas. If you are familiar with what kinds of eye drops exist for what they can do, it will be easier for you to take all the steps necessary to alleviate the symptoms of dry eyes and health issues.
Ans: Though not contagious, dry eyes can be genetic in some cases. Just because a member of your family has dry eyes, that does not mean it will be passed on to you as well. But the chances are not zero. Precisely, woman who has reached the age of a menopausal woman is more likely to get them.
Ans: If you are using preservative eye drops, we would recommend using them no more than 4 times a day. This is because these preservatives, mainly, benzalkonium chloride (BAK) can irritate the eyes, if used too frequently.
On the other hand, preservative-free eye drops are milder and act gently on the eyes. Because of that, you can use them frequently, even multiple times a day. That said, also read and follow the instructions given on the product label.
Yes, we provide emergency eye care for conditions like eye injuries, sudden vision loss, and infections. If you experience any urgent eye problems, please contact us immediately, and our team will assist you in getting the care you need.
Signs to watch for include blurry vision, floaters, sudden loss of vision, eye pain, redness, or sensitivity to light. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to schedule an eye exam at Vision Concern Eye Clinic as soon as possible for early diagnosis and treatment.
If you’re experiencing blurred vision, headaches, or eye strain, it may be a sign that you need glasses or contact lenses. Our eye exams will help determine whether you need corrective lenses. We’ll also discuss your options based on your lifestyle and preferences, including glasses, contacts, or even refractive surgery like LASIK.
