The 11 Best Eye Drops to Relieve Dry Eyes

If you suffer from dry, irritated eyes, these OTC eye drops should stay by your side

By 

Kayla Blanton

 Fact checked by 

Richard Scherr

In This Article

• Our Top Picks
• Reviews
• How We Selected
• What To Know
• Your Questions, Answered
• Who We Are

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.

If you suffer from dry eyes, you’re not alone. Dry eye disease affects 30 million Americans and over 300 million people worldwide, says Ranjodh S. Boparai, M.D., ophthalmic surgeon and CEO of CorneaCare. When left untreated, dry eyes can quickly alter daily life and even impact your emotional well-being: Those with dry eye disease are two to three times more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety, says Dr. Boparai. The good news is, quality lubricating eye drops offer almost immediate relief.

Eye drops provide lubrication and moisture for dry eyes. They also supplement the tear film, which is the protective coating of tears that retains moisture on the eye and contributes to proper lid function, comfort, and clear vision, explains Raymond Douglas, M.D., a Beverly Hills-based oculoplastic surgeon. Drops can also help clear the eyes of any debris, allergens, and pathogens that may lead to inflammation.

Whether you’ve been diagnosed with dry eye disease or are looking for moisturizing drops to keep on hand when irritation creeps up, these are the best expert-approved picks on the market.

Recall Alert

The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recall on several popular brands of over-the-counter eye drops on October 27, 2023. The eye drops are being recalled because of the potential risk of eye infections resulting in partial vision loss or blindness.

If you use eye drops from the following brands, stop using them immediately and contact your healthcare provider:

• CVS Health
• Leader (Cardinal Health)
• Rugby (Cardinal Health)
• Rite Aid
• Target Up&Up
• Velocity Pharma

None of the eye drops we recommend below are involved in the recall. Before selecting products to include in our articles, we interview multiple ophthalmologists and optometrists for their safe and effective recommendations. We always stay updated on the latest recall information to keep our readers informed.

Our Top Picks

BEST OVERALL:

Systane Complete PF Eye Drops at Amazon ($15)

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BEST BUDGET:

Refresh Tears Lubricant Eye Drops at Amazon ($15)

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BEST FOR CONTACT LENS WEARERS:

Biotrue Hydration Boost Dry Eye Drops at Amazon ($20)

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BEST FOR OVERNIGHT DRY EYES:

Optase HyloNight Eye Ointment at Amazon ($17)

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BEST FOR POST-LASIK SURGERY:

Blink Tears Lubricating Eye Drops at Amazon ($10)

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BEST PRESERVATIVE-FREE:

CorneaCare Recover Eye Drops at Mycorneacare.com (See Price)

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BEST FOR LONG-LASTING RELIEF:

TheraTears Extra Dry Eye Therapy at Amazon (See Price)

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BEST FOR MULTIPLE-USE EYE DROPS:

Similasan Complete Eye Relief at Amazon (See Price)

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BEST FOR ALLERGIES:

ALCON Zaditor Antihistamine Eye Drops at Amazon ($12)

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BEST GEL-BASED EYE DROPS:

GenTeal Tears Lubricant Eye Gel at Amazon ($14)

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Best Overall

Systane Complete PF Eye Drops

AMAZON

View On Amazon$15View On Target$18View On Walmart$16

Why We Like It

• The formula protects against tear evaporation and contains nano-sized droplets for better coverage.

It’s Worth Noting

• The bottle is on the small side.

Dr. Douglas recommends Systane as a reputable brand, and the line’s Complete PF drops offer the whole package: They’re preservative-free, and the active ingredient is propylene glycol, which Douglas says is safe for ongoing use.

They’re also safe for sensitive eyes, and in addition to offering immediate relief with lubrication, the formula keeps tears from evaporating, providing long-lasting comfort. Unlike most preservative-free drops, which are packaged in individual vials, Complete PF comes in a multi-dose bottle with packaging that keeps the solution stable and sanitary.

Product Details:

• Active Ingredients: Propylene glycol
• Preservatives: No
• Symptoms treated: Dry eyes, sensitive eyes
• Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed
• Size: .34 fluid ounces

Best Budget

Refresh Tears Lubricant Eye Drops

AMAZON

View On Amazon$15View On Target$15View On Walmart$11

Why We Like It

• A two-pack of these moisturizing drops costs less than $20.

It’s Worth Noting

• The formula is best for mild to moderate dry eye.

If you’re someone who experiences the occasional, moderate dry eye, this is a high-quality, affordable pick to have on hand, says Dr. Douglas. The formula is designed to emulate natural tears and offers temporary relief from dryness and sensitivity. It’s safe for use with contact lenses, and won’t cause prolonged blurring after administration.

We also love the value of these eye drops. Not only are the bottles on the larger side, but you also get two per pack, making them a good choice for someone who uses eye drops frequently.

Product Details:

• Active Ingredients: Carboxymethylcellulose sodium
• Preservatives: Yes
• Symptoms treated: Dry eyes
• Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed
• Size: .5 fluid ounces

Best for Contact Lens Wearers

Biotrue Hydration Boost Dry Eye Drops

AMAZON

View On Amazon$20View On Target$13View On Walmart$13

Why We Like It

• The preservative-free drops hydrate with ingredients that are naturally found in tears.

It’s Worth Noting

• The bottle’s dispenser can be finicky.

Using two moisturizing ingredients—glycerin and hyaluronic acid—that mimic the compounds found in real tears, these drops lubricate by pulling moisture from the environment and delivering it to your eyes. The natural ingredients are gentle and perfect for anyone whose eyes are on the sensitive side.

Although we selected these drops for contact lens wearers, they’re safe for use with or without contacts. Added antioxidants protect eyes from environmental pollutants, and the drops also soothe eye strain caused by extended screen time.

Product Details:

• Active Ingredients: Glycerin, hyaluronic acid
• Preservatives: No
• Symptoms treated: Dry eyes, dry contacts
• Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed
• Size: .33 fluid ounces

Best for Overnight Dry Eyes

Optase HyloNight Eye Ointment

AMAZON

View On Amazon$17View On Eyedropshop.com

Why We Like It

• This ointment provides six hours of overnight relief without leaving eyes crusty or uncomfortable come morning.

It’s Worth Noting

• The formula may contain peanut oil.

When it comes to overnight dry eyes, thicker eye ointments deliver where thinner eye drops fall short. Optase HyloNight Eye Ointment contains petrolatum and lanolin, which protect the eye and help it retain moisture through the night.

Unlike other eye ointments that can cause irritation to sensitive eyelid skin, this one is gentle and safe for nightly use. Just keep in mind the formula may contain peanut oil, so look elsewhere if you have allergies.

Product Details:

• Active Ingredients: White petrolatum, lanolin, light mineral oil
• Preservatives: No
• Symptoms treated: Dry eyes
• Dosage: ¼ inch of ointment to inner lower lid nightly 
• Size: .18 fluid ounces

Best for Post-Lasik Surgery

Blink Tears Lubricating Eye Drops

AMAZON

View On Amazon$10View On Target$10View On Walgreens$12

Why We Like It

• These affordable drops provide immediate comfort and are easy to use as needed.

It’s Worth Noting

• The formula contains preservatives.

Dr. Douglas recommends Blink Tears as a go-to for dry eyes in general, which makes them especially ideal for remedying discomfort post-Lasik surgery. It’s important to note, though, that your doctor may prescribe antibiotic or steroid drops for immediate use after surgery, per the Omaha/Lincoln Eye & Laser Institute. Any drops you use after that should be approved by your doctor.

With that being said, Lasik patients tend to use their fair share of drops during recovery, and these won’t break the bank if you go through a few bottles.

Product Details:

• Active Ingredients: Polyethylene glycol 
• Preservatives: Yes
• Symptoms treated: Dry eyes
• Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed
• Size: .5 fluid ounces

Best Preservative-Free

CorneaCare Recover Eye Drops

CORNEACARE

View On Mycorneacare.com

Why We Like It

• These preservative-free drops contain ingredients that lubricate and calm irritation.

It’s Worth Noting

• They’re on the pricey side.

The active ingredients in these drops are two-fold. The drops contain hyaluronic acid and glycerin to help the eyes naturally create and retain moisture, as well as the emollient povidone, which prevents irritation and reduces stress and strain.

The bottle’s nozzle features a patented one-way valve technology that allows tears to flow out while preventing germs from getting in, keeping the solution sterile for up to 90 days. The formula is also contact lens-safe.

Product Details:

• Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, povidone
• Preservatives: No
• Symptoms treated: Dry eyes, dry contacts, irritated eyes
• Dosage: 1 drop in each eye three to four times daily
• Size: .33 fluid ounces

Best for Long-Lasting Relief

TheraTears Extra Dry Eye Therapy

AMAZON

View On AmazonView On Target$10View On Walmart$14

Why We Like It

• These drops offer dry eye relief without causing blurred vision.

It’s Worth Noting

• The formula contains preservatives.

Using five vital electrolytes found in natural tears, these drops restore salt imbalance, which can cause dry, irritated eyes. At one full fluid ounce, the bottle will last, and the preservatives in the formula allow you to keep it on hand for a while.

The formula was clinically proven to relieve dry eyes without burning or stinging upon application, making it a good selection for sensitive eyes. However, it’s unclear whether the drops are safe for contact lens wearers, so ask your doctor before using if you wear contacts.

Product Details:

• Active Ingredients: Sodium carboxymethylcellulose
• Preservatives: Yes
• Symptoms treated: Dry eyes, irritated eyes
• Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed
• Size: 1 fluid ounce

Best for Multiple-Use Eye Drops

Similasan Complete Eye Relief

AMAZON

View On Amazon

Why We Like It

• These drops contain natural ingredients that offer temporary relief of dryness, grittiness, itchiness, and more.

It’s Worth Noting

• The glass bottle can make for tricky use.

If you’re conscious about using natural ingredients, these drops fit the bill. The Swiss homeopathic formula soothes irritation with the herbaceous flower extract eyebright. It also contains hydrating ingredients glycerin and aloe vera, which makes them great to keep on hand for any bothersome eye issues that may come up.

The drops contain what the brand describes as “gentle” preservatives, so they’re not entirely preservative-free. However, the formula expires 90 days after opening, so the drops have a somewhat limited shelf life if you only use them occasionally.

Product Details:

• Active Ingredients: Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis), belladonna, mercurius sublimatus
• Preservatives: Yes
• Symptoms treated: Dry eyes, irritated eyes, redness, burning, watering, grittiness
• Dosage: 2 to 3 drops as needed
• Size: .33 fluid ounces

Best for Allergies

ALCON Zaditor Antihistamine Eye Drops

WALMART

View On Amazon$12View On Target$15View On Walmart$14

Why We Like It

• These drops treat allergy symptoms without the use of blood vessel-constricting decongestants. 

It’s Worth Noting

• They’re not safe for use with contact lenses. 

Dr. Douglas warns that many eyedrops formulated for redness and allergy relief contain decongestants like etrahydrozoline and naphazoline, which constrict the blood vessels in your eye, resulting in a white appearance. However, when those ingredients are used continuously, the eye blood vessels may respond by over-dilating, Dr. Douglas says, resulting in a condition called the rebound hyperemia effect.

Fortunately, this allergy-targeted formula from Systane doesn’t contain either of those ingredients and provides up to 12 hours of itch and redness relief. On the downside, they’re not safe for contact lens wearers.

Product Details:

• Active Ingredients: Ketotifen fumarate
• Preservatives: Yes
• Symptoms treated: Irritated, itchy eyes and redness
• Dosage: 1 drop in each eye every 12 hours
• Size: .17 fluid ounces

Best Gel-Based Eye Drops

GenTeal Tears Lubricant Eye Gel

AMAZON

View On Amazon$14View On Target$12View On Walmart$11

Why We Like It

• This product is a great middle ground between an eye ointment and regular drops.

It’s Worth Noting

• There may be a learning curve to dispensing from a tube rather than a traditional eye dropper.

The thought of applying a thicker gel on your eye may sound intimidating, but GenTeal’s formula liquifies after a few blinks, leaving you with a restored protective tear film and a hydrated eye with minimal feelings of gloopiness, blurred vision, or discomfort. The gel is especially helpful for soothing irritation caused by wind or sun exposure.

Keep in mind that as with most eye gels, this one might make your vision blurry for a few minutes, but after that, the long-lasting relief is hard to beat. The gel is also free of preservatives.

Product Details:

• Active Ingredients: Hypromellose
• Preservatives: No
• Symptoms treated: Dry eyes
• Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed
• Size: .34 fluid ounces

Best for Severe Dryness

Ocusoft RETAINE MGD Ophthalmic Emulsion Eye Drops

AMAZON

View On Amazon$19View On Walgreens$27View On Walmart$23

Why We Like It

• These drops address dryness and irritation and come in sterile single-use droppers.

It’s Worth Noting

• The droppers might require some trial and error.

This oil-based solution from Retaine helps restore moisture to the eyes’ lipid layer while also stabilizing the tear film, which is why Dr. Douglas recommends them for severe dryness. In other words, the drops not only provide immediate relief but instead keep tears from evaporating, which prevents future dryness and irritation.

The formula comes in sterile, single-use vials that minimize reaction risk. The drops are preservative-free, and even though they yield amazing results for severe dryness, they’re also easy on sensitive eyes.

Product Details:

• Active Ingredients: Mineral oil, light mineral oil
• Preservatives: No
• Symptoms treated: Dry eyes, irritated eyes
• Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed
• Size: .34 fluid ounces
• Reference<https://www.health.com/condition/dry-eye/best-eye-drops-for-dry-eyes