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11 Best Eye Drops to Soothe Dry Eyes, According to Ophthalmologists
Computer strain, contact lenses, MGD — whatever the cause, there's something that can help.
By Marisa Cohen
There are some moments when the tears just won’t stop (say, that time you binge-watched all six seasons of This Is Us). Then there are the times it feels like your eyes are as dry and dusty as a sun-parched dirt road in the middle of an old Western town. Rather than being a tortured metaphor, it’s more likely that you have dry eye syndrome.
Millions of Americans suffer from dry eyes every year. This occurs when your eyes don’t make enough tears, or they don’t make high-quality tears, which should include layers of water, oil, and mucus. “This causes your eyes to feel gritty, red and irritated,” says Ami Shah Vira, MD, an ophthalmologist with Texas Neuro Eye & Plastic Surgery. It can happen to anyone, but if you are female, over age 50 or wear contact lenses (or all three!), you are at greater risk. People with certain autoimmune conditions, such as Sjogren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis, may also suffer from dry eyes.
Our top picks:
Another factor leading to that scratchy-eye feeling: our high-tech. 21st-century lives. “When we’re looking at digital devices all day, we blink a lot less and that can destabilize our tear film, impacting natural homeostasis,” says Melissa Barnett, OD, director of optometry at the University of California Davis. Untreated, dry eyes can also lead to infections as well a lot of discomfort, adds ophthalmologist Daniel C. Brocks, MD, medical director at BostonSight. “Tears help us see clearly but they also prevent infection and wash away irritants. With dry eye, contaminants and bacteria can grab on more easily,” he explains.
Luckily, there are many different eye drops that can help you feel better and see clearer. "Although artificial tears don’t address the underlying cause of dry eye, they can control symptoms,” says Dr. Barnett.
Below, you'll find the best eye drops for dry eyes, recommended by the experts above, depending on the cause. At the end of this page, we also answer common questions about different types of eye drops and how to use eye drops.
Refresh Tears Lubricant Eye Drops
Pros
- Great reviews
- Easy to squeeze bottle
- Works fast
Cons
- Some reviewers say relief lasts only a few hours
Sometimes you just need an inexpensive bottle of drugstore drops to throw in your purse for those moments when your eyes are feeling gritty and dry from the wind, the A/C or too much TV. This is a gently-priced, solid option for those moments. With over 18,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, thousands of people say they got instant relief when using these drops. Plus, some note that the bottle is softer and easier to squeeze.
Refresh Contacts
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Great reviews
Cons
- Some reviewers say it stings
This inexpensive drugstore brand has rave reviews for keeping contact-covered eyes moisturized and comfortable at a good price. You can use them as often as needed; squeeze a drop into your lenses before inserting them in your eye for extra comfort. Because it contains preservatives and is a multi-use bottle, be sure to discard after 90 days.
Systane Ultra Lubricant Eye Drops
Pros
- Great reviews
- Good for sensitive eyes
Cons
- Individual vials creates more plastic waste
- Expensive
If you use eye drops frequently, you'll want to stick with preservative-free formulas, which have fewer chemicals that can irritate the eye. Without preservatives, however, it's safest for the drops to come in sanitary one-time use vials, like these from Systane, which have thousands of 5-star reviews on Amazon. Reviewers say they feel more gel-like and moisturizing than other brands and are great for sensitive eyes.
Biotrue Hydration Boost Eye Drops
Biotrue Hydration Boost Eye Drops
Pros
- Can be used with contacts
- Ultra hydrating
Cons
- Some reviewers say it's difficult to squeeze out drops
Made with glycerin, which hydrates eyes and also adds an extra protective coat, these soothing drops are safe to use with contact lenses, and can also be used proactively if you know you’ll be out in the sun or wind. The preservative-free drops also contain hyaluronan, a type of moisturizer found in tears.
Oasis Medical Tears Plus Preservative-Free Eye Drops
Oasis Medical Tears Plus Preservative-Free Eye Drops
Pros
- Sterile bottle (up to 90 days)
- Long-lasting relief
Cons
- Expensive
Dr. Barnett recommends these drops for dry eyes due to long days staring at your laptop or too many hours on TikTok. Long-lasting and appropriate for mild to severe dry eye, these drops are preservative-free but come in a multi-use bottle with a special design that prevents microbial contamination.
iVIZIA Lubricant Eye Gel for Severe and Nighttime Dry Eye Relief
iVIZIA Lubricant Eye Gel for Severe and Nighttime Dry Eye Relief
Pros
- Thick, soothing formulation
Cons
- Can't use while wearning contacts
- Individual vials creates more plastic waste
You generally want to save thick, gooey gels for nighttime, when your eyes are resting and don't need to see clearly. This long-lasting gel, which contains hyaluronic acid and comes in individual doses, is thicker and provides more lubrication and moisture than liquid drops, says Dr. Barnett.
Refresh Optive Mega-3 Lubricant Eye Drops
Pros
- Contains omaga-3s
- Doesn't require shaking before use
Cons
- Expensive
- Individual vials creates more plastic waste
Melbomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is when there’s a problem with the tiny glands that make up the oily part of your tears. When these glands get clogged, your eyes produce watery tears, which evaporate faster than those with good, thick oils in them. Dr. Barnett recommends these moisture-rich drops, which contain omega-3 fats from flaxseed oil, for dry eye associated with MGD.
Retaine PM Nighttime Lubricant Eye Ointment
Pros
- Great reviews
- Easy application
Cons
- Expensive
- Some reviewers say it's sticky
Created for severely dry eyes, this gooey ointment contains mineral oil and petrolatum, and soothes the eyes overnight as you sleep. Reviewers say it's pricey but worth the money.
Bausch + Lomb Soothe Preservative-Free Lubricant Eye Drops
Bausch + Lomb Soothe Preservative-Free Lubricant Eye Drops
Pros
- Works fast
- Restores the lipid layer of tears
Cons
- Individual vials creates more plastic waste
These drops contain mineral oils to restore the lipid layer that deteriorates with MGD. Reviewers say it is very soothing, especially for nighttime use, without the gooiness of ointments or gels.
Blink Gel Tears Lubricating Eye Drops
Pros
- Can be used anytime
- Long-lasting relief
Cons
- Expensive
- Individual vials creates more plastic waste
“Gels stick around longer, so they are good for severe dry eye or for use at bedtime,” says Dr. Shah Vira. On the flip side, they tend to blur your vision more than liquids, she adds. But these gel tears are designed for moderate to severe dry eye, and can be used during the day or at night.
Optase Optase Dry Eye Intense Drops
Pros
- Sterile bottle (up to 90 days)
- Long-lasting relief
Cons
- Expensive
- Some reviewers say the bottle isn't easy to use
Preservative-free and compatible with contact lenses, these drops come in a multi-use bottle that claims to stay sterile for three months. Reviewers say that it's worth the extra cost to save the earth from all the extra plastic that comes with individual doses of preservative-free drops.
How we chose the best eye drops
To choose the best eye drops, we spoke to several eye doctors about what to look for in an eye drop and which products they recommend to their patients. We also scoured the internet to read all the reviews, positive and negative, by consumers with dry eyes.
What to look for in eye drops
✔️ Ingredients: Dr. Barnett points out that the main ingredients in most artificial tears are either ophthalmic demulcents or emollients (fats and oils), which can help replace the oils that your glands should be producing. Eye drops are also available with or without preservatives. “Preservatives can be irritating or even toxic to the ocular surface when used regularly, so for people with significant dry eye who are very frequently using artificial tears, we recommend preservative-free formulations,” says Dr. Brocks. Preservative-free formulations mainly come in single-use vials, while preserved artificial tears come in bottles. If you choose to use the preserved type in bottles, it’s crucial to keep the tip of the bottle clean so as not to introduce bacteria and other contaminants into your eye. Dr. Shah Vira cautions there is one type of drop to avoid if you have dry eye. "The best drops are the ones that don’t say ‘get the red out,'" she says. "Those contain substances that can actually cause rebound redness after you stop using them."
✔️ Form: Drops for dry eyes come in liquids, gels and ointments. “Liquid artificial tears are not as thick as gel artificial tears,” says Dr. Barnett. “In moderate to severe dry eye, I recommend a liquid drop for daytime use and a gel or ointment for nighttime use.” Lubricating ointments, which come in a tube and are thicker, can be used at night and may temporarily blur your vision, she adds.
✔️ Severity: For very severe dry eye, ask your eye doctor about medicated drops, which can reduce inflammation or attempt to improve the quality and quantity of your own tears, says Dr. Brocks.
What is the best way to use eye drops?
Whichever type of drop you choose, it’s best to be consistent. “If your eyes feel dry, then you’re just playing catch-up—it’s like when your skin is very dry and begins to crack,” says Dr. Shah Vira. “Most commonly, lubricating drops are applied between 4 to 6 times a day,” Dr. Brocks explains, adding that for people with severe dry eye due to a condition such as Sjogren's, drops may need to be applied much more frequently, even as often as every 10 minutes. All three experts add that if the drops make your eyes sting, refrigerating the bottle can make them more tolerable (check the package for specific instructions). To make sure the drops go in your eyes and not all over your face, Dr. Barnett says, “I recommend lying down, closing the eyes, then instilling the artificial tears and blinking a few times.”
Can I use drops if I wear contact lenses?
Contacts are one of the main causes of dry eye. “But there are only specific lubricating drops that should be used with contact lenses,” cautions Dr. Brocks. Drops that are thick and oily can smudge your lenses and impair vision. “Be sure to check the box and package insert to ensure you are using the proper lubricating drops if you are applying them while contact lenses are in the eyes,” Dr. Brocks advises.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
As Deputy Editor of the Health Newsroom at Hearst, Marisa Cohen writes about every topic affecting physical and mental health, from the brain to the feet, and everything in between, including eyes, having previously covered eye surgery, eye infections, how allergies affect eyes, and more. She has more than two decades of experience reporting and writing about health for numerous magazines and web sites. For this article, she interviewed top eye doctors for advice on what to look for in drops for dry eye syndrome.
Marisa Cohen is an editor in the Hearst Lifestyle Group’s Health Newsroom, who has covered health, nutrition, parenting and culture for dozens of magazines and websites over the past two decades.
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