Soothe Dry, Irritated Eyes With the 13 Best Eye Drops, According to an Eye Doctor (2024)

TL;DR

Systane Gel Drops are our overall favorite dryness-relieving drop, thanks to a thick texture that makes them extremely lubricating. Contact lens wearers will enjoy the Opti-Free Replenish Rewetting Drops, which you can drop into your eyes while still wearing contact lenses.

It’s a fact: Dry, red, and irritated eyes are really uncomfortable. Also, a fact: More people than ever before are experiencing that incredibly annoying eye itch, says board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Diane Hilal-Campo. Looking for relief? Dr. Hilal-Campo says a good eye drop can ease discomfort instantly.Instead of rummaging through your medicine cabinet and grabbing the first eye drops you can find, consider the different ingredients that make eye drops more or less helpful at easing discomfort when choosing the right one for you.

To help you decide which eye drops are best for your eyes, we conducted hours of research to find the best, evaluating each formula on its dosage, ingredients, and intended use. We also considered customer reviews and tested some of the products on our own. Then, we consulted with a board-certified ophthalmologist to gain expert insights. The final list was based on the rating (out of five stars), with only the best options making the cut.

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What We Like

  • Thick, gel-like consistency

  • Ideal for nighttime use

  • Long-lasting

Things to Consider

  • May temporarily blur vision

Key Ingredients: Polyethylene glycol 400, propylene glycol | Concerns: Dryness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.34 oz

Per the name, these eye drops have a thicker texture—more gel-like than liquid—making them a great option if you want to ensure long-lasting moisture. How does this formula work? Thanks to the viscous consistency, it forms a protective shield over the eyes, offering relief from the burning and irritation associated with dry eyes. The drops are great to use pre-bedtime to keep your eyes lubricated overnight.

Who It's For

If you experience a lot of discomfort from dry eyes—like burning, stinging, or grittiness—these drops might be able to help. Due to the thicker nature of the formula, the drops create a protective shield over the eyes, forming a barrier that protects against irritating dry air and debris.

Soothe Dry, Irritated Eyes With the 13 Best Eye Drops, According to an Eye Doctor (2)

Things to Consider

  • Not very long-lasting


Key Ingredients:
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium | Concerns: Dryness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.5 oz

Super hydrating and gentle (they don’t even sting when you first apply them), these check all of the basic moisturizing eye drop boxes. They work quickly (how long it takes might vary depending on the user) and ring in at a very wallet-friendly price if you want to stock up on multiple bottles to keep on hand at all times. A little goes a long way, so all you'll need is a drop or two as needed.

Who It's For

If you're looking for a budget-friendly eye drop solution, this clear, nongreasy option helps lubricate and moisten the eyes, even if you wear contact lenses.

What We Like

  • Widely available

  • Safe for contact lens-wearers

  • Helpful for sensitive eyes

  • Preservative-free

Things to Consider

  • Dropper was finicky

Key Ingredients: Carboxymethylcellulose, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate | Concerns: Dryness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.33 oz

As a general rule of thumb, Dr. Hilal-Campo says opting for preservative-free formulas is best, and this one is one of her favorites. She explains that it’s a great, all-around dry eye relief product, as it contains a mix of commonly used eye drop ingredients and sodium hyaluronate, making it very soothing. FYI, double-check to ensure you’re getting the preservative-free version, as there’s also a variant containing preservatives. The only downside of this product is that the dropper can be a bit finicky from time to time, so you may have to put in some elbow grease.

Who It's For

Refresh Relieva Eye Drops are for people (contact lens wearers or not) who experience dry, irritated eyes on a daily basis or those with sensitive eyes.

What We Like

  • Affordable

  • Quick relief

  • Fuss-free formula

Things to Consider

  • Can’t be used while wearing contacts

Key Ingredients: Polyethylene glycol, glycerin | Concerns: Dryness, burning, itching | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.5 oz

This brand may be best known for drops that combat redness, but they also make this straightforward option to help add much-needed moisture to dry eyes. The formula touts 10 ingredients found in your tears so that they work as such, helping to combat not only that dry, sandpapery feeling but also itching and burning. Keep in mind that these shouldn't be used when you're wearing contact lenses.

Who It's For

Visine's Dry Eye Relief drops are a type of over-the-counter eye drop that can help relieve the symptoms of dry eye. That said, they're most likely to benefit people who experience dry eye because of environmental factors, like wind, dust, or smoke.

What We Like

  • Instantly soothes and comforts

  • Hyaluronate works as a hydration booster

  • Larger size

Things to Consider

  • On the runny side

Key Ingredients: Polyethylene glycol | Concerns: Dryness, itchiness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 1 oz

If you experience occasional dryness, reach for these drops. Not quite as intense as some of the others on this list, they’re ideal if your eyes just feel slightly scratchy or gritty from time to time. A drop or two should work instantly, making your eyes feel so much more comfortable. Something to note: These drops are on the runny side, so be sure to use a gentle touch when squeezing the dropper.

Who It's For

If you only experience mild dryness from time to time, this is the best option for you. As we mentioned above, they're not as intense as other options on this list—so you may need to reapply more often—but they can be used as often as needed.

What We Like

  • Promises up to 12 hours of comfort

  • Widely applicable

  • Preservative-free

Things to Consider

  • Can get a little messy


Key Ingredients:
Sodium carboxymethylcellulose | Concerns: Dryness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 1 oz

If you experience dryness more often than not, this formula is a great choice. This brand boasts that it was created by an ophthalmologist and is the result of nearly two decades of research (color us impressed). Also nice: It’s an electrolyte-balanced option that does a great job of hydrating the eye. Plus, it’s another option that’s preservative-free. It tends to come out of the bottle quickly, so keep that in mind when dropping it into your eyes.

Who It's For

These viscous eye drops help lubricate the eyes and protect them from irritants. This is a good catchall option that would work for most people with dry eyes.

Soothe Dry, Irritated Eyes With the 13 Best Eye Drops, According to an Eye Doctor (8)

What We Like

  • Thick, gel-like consistency

  • A little goes a long way

  • Ideal for nighttime use

Things to Consider

  • May temporarily blur vision

Key Ingredients: Hypromellose | Concerns: Dryness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.34 oz

A thick gel like this one is best for the most extreme dryness (you know, the kind that can hurt). Just a tiny squirt of these drops designed specifically for dry eyes fully coats your eye and delivers long-lasting relief, whether you’re using it day or night. The drops may temporarily blur vision, so keep that in mind if you're planning on applying them before driving.

Just FYI, though, if your symptoms don’t improve after using these (or any other drops for that matter), see your eye doc, as you may need a prescription-strength option, notes Dr. Hilal-Campo.

Who It's For

If you're experiencing extreme dry eye, it's important to see an eye doctor. However, in the meantime, these thick eye drops can help. They're designed to deliver relief over the course of a few hours, day or night.

What We Like

  • Eases redness

  • Quick relief

  • Long-lasting

Things to Consider

  • Some side effects can occur

Key Ingredients: Brimonidine tartrate | Concerns: Redness | Dosage: 1 drop every 6 to 8 hours | Size: 0.08 oz

If redness and dryness go hand-in-hand for you, consider these redness-relieving drops, which use brimonidine, an ingredient that targets redness quickly. It's one of the best ways to brighten the whites of your eyes. The results also last for eight hours, making these a great pick to use on bleary-eyed mornings.

It's important to note that some people report blurred vision when trying these drops. While we didn't notice any side effects, it's worth paying attention to if you have certain medical conditions like glaucoma or retinal detachment. It's always best to talk to your doctor before trying a new solution.

Who It's For

If you're looking for an over-the-counter fix, these eye drops can temporarily diminish the look of redness and make your eyes appear whiter and brighter.

What We Like

  • Works when oil-layer of tears isn't produced well

  • Long-lasting

  • Soothes instantly

Things to Consider

  • Main ingredient is an allergen


Key Ingredients:
Mineral oil | Concerns: Dryness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.01 oz

“It’s being increasingly realized that the majority of dry eye patients may have meibomian gland disease, meaning the oil layer of the tears isn’t produced as well,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo. For these people, drops that contain oil, like this one, are extremely helpful. In particular, this one contains mineral oil—an ingredient better known for treating dry, sensitive skin—which makes it long-lasting and soothing, she says. The caveat? Some people can be allergic to mineral oil, so discontinue use if you experience irritation.

Who It's For

This is a great alternative to traditional eye drops for people with conditions like meibomian gland disease, or folks that need or prefer an oil formula to treat their dry eyes.

What We Like

  • Suitable for contact lens wearers

  • Hydrating formula

  • Quick relief

Things to Consider

  • Contains preservatives


Key Ingredients:
Citrate/borate buffer, sodium chloride | Concerns: Dryness | Dosage: 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.33 oz

Dryness (and itchiness and redness and every other eye issue) only becomes more challenging to treat when you’re also wearing contacts. Enter this mild formula that instantly re-wets and moisturizes contact lenses (so there’s no need to take them out) and also removes any minuscule particles like dust or makeup that may be irritating. The only caveat: It contains preservatives, so if that's a deal breaker for you, you might want to skip this one.

Who It's For

This formula is ideal for anyone who wears contact lenses daily. We love that you can apply these drops even when you have your contacts in—the same can't be said for all of the other formulas on this list.

What We Like

  • More hygienic option than others

  • Long-lasting

  • Hydrating formula

Things to Consider

  • Main ingredient is an allergen

Key Ingredients: Mineral oil | Concerns: Dryness, burning | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.5 oz

Using the same eye drops repeatedly can cause contamination, especially if you're sharing the bottle with family members or are using it after an eye infection. “Some people prefer drops that come in individual-use vials, which they find easy to carry and use,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo. This product fits the bill and it is another preservative-free drop that moisturizes the eye, prevents tear loss, and comes in single-use, sterile vials. This is another mineral oil-based pick, so it may not be suitable for all.

Who It's For

These single-use eye drops are great for anyone concerned with cross-contamination. Single-use eye drops, in general, are less likely to transfer bacteria from one person to another and can help eliminate the chance of reinfection if using the drops after an eye infection.

What We Like

  • Cooling effect

  • Long-lasting

  • Good value

Things to Consider

  • Menthol can irritate sensitive eyes


Key Ingredients:
Polysorbate, naphazoline hydrochloride | Concerns: Redness, burning, dryness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops up to 4 times daily | Size: 0.4 oz

If you often deal with itchy, stinging eyes, look to these drops that instantly cool the eyes upon contact. To help treat irritation, this formula relies on a micro-emulsion formula that targets all three layers of tear film to keep your eyes comfortably lubricated for up to eight hours. Note: Menthol, which is in the formula, can be irritating to some, so we recommend chatting with your eye doctor if you're unsure if this is a good option for you.

Who It's For

These over-the-counter drops can relieve dry eye symptoms and contain a cooling agent that soothes eyes in addition to a decongestant that helps reduce redness.

What We Like

  • Made without preservatives

  • Suitable for contact lens wearers

  • Great for super sensitive eyes

Things to Consider

  • Dropper is finicky

Key Ingredients: Glycerin | Concerns: Dryness, burning, itching | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.33 oz

Those with super sensitive eyes may want to opt for super gentle options, and this is a choice pick. Not only are these preservative-free, but they’re also pH-balanced, contain a protective antioxidant, and are instantly hydrating and soothing. You can use them even if you’re wearing contacts, and they’re a good way to ward off dryness even before it starts, too. One thing to note is that the dropper on this bottle is a special design that requires a good amount of force to dispense the drops.

Who It's For

Anyone seeking preservative-free eye drops will enjoy these pH-balanced drops made with protective antioxidants and a slew of soothing, hydrating ingredients.

What to Look for in Eye Drops for Dry Eyes

  • Ket Ingredients: According to Dr. Hilal-Campo, common ingredients used in eye drops include carboxymethylcellulose, glycerin, polyethylene glycol, and propylene glycol. It is possible to have an allergic reaction to these ingredients, though, which is why it’s important to know which one you’re using. “It often requires some trial and error to find a product that works best for you,” she explains.
  • Preservatives: Dr. Hilal-Campo also recommends seeking out preservative-free drops, often marketed as preservative-free tears. These are the best option for over-the-counter drops, given that these ingredients can be irritating and can actually exacerbate dryness for many people.
  • Dosage: You’ll also want to keep an eye out for the recommended dosage in each formula. Some require multiple drops a day, while others suggest using only once a day. Spend some time reading the directions on the package of the option you choose so you can experience the benefits.

FAQ

  • How often can you use eye drops for dry eyes?

    Dr. Hilal-Campo says you should never use eye drops for dry eyes more than four times a day. “Eye drops have preservatives in them that can be toxic to the cornea and conjunctival epithelium when used more frequently than instructed,” she explains. However, she notes that preservative-free formulas can be used as frequently as needed. “If you’re using eye drops more than four times daily, you should consider going to an eye care professional to get a prescription medication,” she adds.

  • How many drops should you put into dry eyes?

    How many drops you should deposit into your eyes will depend on each formula and what the directions on the product indicate. According to Dr. Hilal-Campo, one drop per eye is typically considered a full dose, however, some formulas may indicate inserting three or more drops at a time.

  • Can you use eye drops everyday?

    Although there's no set limit for how many days in a row you can use eye drops, long-term use is not recommended without the care of an ophthalmologist or eye care expert.

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Before you check out, here are some other helpful products to combat dry, irritated eyes:

  • Ezona Heated Eye Mask: Along with eye drops, a heated eye mask can help relieve dry and irritated eyes. Gentle heat stimulates tear production and blood flow, which can do wonders for dry eyes. This heated eye mask features three heat levels and a rechargeable battery too.
  • Ocusoft Lid Scrub Original Eyelid Cleanser: Eyelid cleansers are formulated to wash away oils, bacteria, pollen, and any crust that forms along the lash line. They can help to relieve eye irritation and redness, as the cause could be something that can easily be removed with a cleanser. Simply rub the pad across the eyelid and rinse with cool water for optimal results.
  • Nature Made Fish Oil: Omega-3 fatty acid supplements can lessen dry eye symptoms and are amazing for heart health, too. These supplements from Nature Made are affordable, and with Amazon’s quick shipping, they’ll be at your doorstep in two days or less.

Why Trust Byrdie

Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry. As a longtime contact lens wearer, she’s very familiar with a dry eye situation (and the best products that can help).

Caitlyn Martyn is an associate commerce editor on staff at Byrdie. She is also a longtime contact lens wearer, as well as a sensitive eye girlie, so she knows a thing or two about eye health.

Team Byrdie worked with an eye expert to help inform our picks:

  • Dr. Diane Hilal-Campo is a board-certified ophthalmologist based in Oakland, New Jersey. She is renowned for her expertise in correcting a wide range of disorders in the eye, both medically and surgically. She is also the founder of Twenty/Twenty Beauty, a brand dedicated to formulating eye-safe cosmetics.
Soothe Dry, Irritated Eyes With the 13 Best Eye Drops, According to an Eye Doctor (2024)
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