Survey dates: 11/15/24-12/21/24

Participants: 214

Intro

One of the most frequent questions I am asked is, "What's the best eye drop?"

And of course, there is no answer to that. At the end of the day, the primary purpose of lubricant eye drops for most of us is comfort - to make our eyes feel better, to make our functional vision more comfortable. And that's a very personal thing. What works for me may not for you.

So I thought it would be fun to survey the community and this and see if we could tease out a trend or two. And, if you've followed my surveys, you know I'm always just as interested in the comments and explanations and stories as the numbers.

Hope you enjoy! I really appreciate all the people who take the time to complete surveys like these.

Which is your #1 favorite eye drop?

Top 10

10.3% Refresh Celluvisc PF (vials)
8.4% Systane Hydration PF (vials or bottle)
8% Refresh Plus PF (vials)
7.5% Ivizia PF (bottle)
7% Oasis Tears Plus (vials or bottle)
6.5% Refresh Optive Mega-3 (vials)
4.7% Optase Dry Eye Intense (vials or bottle)
4.2% Ivizia Lubricant Eye Gel (vials)
4.2% Refresh Relieva (vials or bottle)
4.2% Systane Complete (vials or bottle)

All results

Which is your #2 favorite eye drop?

Which is your favorite gel or ointment?

Reasons for your top 3 favorite drops

These are the explanations provided by respondents for their 1st, 2nd or 3rd favorite drop.

BION TEARS (3, 0, 0)

(1) Immediate Relief, Soothing, Convenient, Least Expensive (use 12-24 boxes/month; Severe KCS; No Tears, Schirmer = 0mm); Used ~25 years, Trusted manufacturer (Alcon); just right consistency for me
(1) They don’t dry and leave crusties on my lashes or skt

BIOTRUE HYDRATION BOOST (bottle, vials) (3, 1, 3)

(1) Multidose but preservative free; feels lubricating without being overly oily or occlusive
(1) It’s the only one I have tried. My eye doctor recommended it for wearing when sclerals are in. I am fortunate to rarely need eye drops. The time or 2 I used it, it worked well.
(1) Biotrue Hydration Boost contact lens drops - they are PF and soothing
(2) I wear contacts, and I like this when my contacts are in. It doesn't coat them.
(3) This is like a thicker iVizia in a lot of ways to me. It’s very non-irritating. I started with the Refresh Mega-3 as my very first drop before seeing an optometrist, and I can’t tell for certain but when I go through phases with it I think it winds up irritating my eyes. Systane Hydration PF also doesn’t seem to bother my eyes ever, but I trust the BioTrue a bit more since my doctor uses it on me after IPL and since the Systane Complete is an absolute disaster. I think Systane Hydration might actually be slightly better than BioTrue.

BLINK TEARS (3, 4, 3)

(1) It feels good and it’s a single vial but it’s expensive
(1) Most comfortable for my eyes
(2) I use the celluvisc to increase the viscosity when I put my lenses in.
(3) A good basic drop.
(3) Dr recommended
(3) I like the bottle for ease of use, gives great dry eye relief.

EYEGANICS (2, 1, 0)

(1) It is organic and free of extra ingredients
(1) It makes my eyes feel good, and there is less waste than the individual wands

FRESHKOTE (2, 1, 1) [Not sold at DES]

Dr Holly's final gift. Non-blurring film.
No preservatives and it works well for me for over a decade. I have not had to use any others.

GENTEAL TEARS (4, 4, 2)

(1) Less irritating.
(1) Work well
(1) genteal never hurts or burns & the bottles are easier to use & dont have hard spiky ends wher the tips are cut off like individual doses from other kinds
(1) The right degree of "thickness" for regular use during the day
(2) They’re okay but I still prefer Visine Tears
(2) I was using this before switching to Soothe because I found Soothe more comfortable. So, I would probably return to Genteal.

IVIZIA LUBRICANT EYE DROPS - BOTTLE (16, 12, 5)

(1) The bottle is more convenient than individual vials.
(1) Thicker. Stays in my eyes longer
(1) Easy to use bottle
(1) Really soothing
(1) can use with scleral lens
(1) It gives relief
(1) Love the bottle and that it doesn’t waste extra drops every time. Gets a little hard to squeeze at the end but I think this is by far the best bottle on the market. Something about the iVizia gel hurts my eyes sometimes but 0 issues with the drop at all unlike with almost every other drop. I like the new Refresh Relieva Xtra for having hyaluronate and trehalose, but I feel like it’s probably a really low concentration of both compared to this. I wish there were more transparency across the board on percentages even though active %s don’t really translate uniformly depending on the vehicle the drug’s in (but at least eye drop manufacturers are willing to put hyaluronic acid as inactive ingredients in their drops unlike sunscreens using the same terrible filters from 20 years ago…)
(1) My eye specialist recommended this
(1) Other drops feel like water compared to this, it feels like there is a little something that provides comfort right away
(1) Value and Quality
(1) It seems to last longer when I use it over my scleral lens
(1) Does not irritate my eyes at all.
(2) Soothing, easy to use.
(2) Comfortable and long lasting
(2) No blurriness, no irritation, can immediately resume work
(2) These just seem to treat my dry eye the best. I use them at night if I run out of the Severe/Night Dry Eye Gel vials. Also I can use these dropw while wearing my sclerals during the day if my eyes get uncomfortable. If my eyes are uncomfortable in the morning, I add these drops to my scleral insertion fluid and it seems to help my eyes feel more comfortable.
(2) If I use them too much my eyes will burn, and that is why I choose Refresh Celluvisc.
(2) larger size bottle
(2) bottle is easier to use than Oasis
(3) Less expensive
(3) I like to have the bottle aspect every few months, when I get around to buying one.

IVIZIA LUBRICANT EYE GEL - VIALS (9, 6, 2)

(1) Protection of tear film seems to last longer
(1) Provides moisture for a longer period of time.
(1) Works best for me at bedtime
(1) This particular gel drop is not only soothing, it does not blur my vision as other gel drops do. And Ivizia Eye Gel seems to moisturize my eyes a little longer than other drops.
(1) Not petroleum based (allergic) and works (in conjunction with silicone eye mask) to keep eye that doesn’t close completely moist at night.
(1) Feels soothing, lasts a long time
(1) Really helps when weather is dry
(1) Ivizia for Severe/Night Dry Eye gel vials just make my dry eyes feel the best compared with other drops I’ve tried. I use them before I go to sleep & every time I wake up at night. I only use them overnight as I wear scleral contact lenses during the day.
(1) Works better than others; thicker
(2) Really good at night between a thick lubricant and daytime drops
(2) I use Ivizia gel for severe dry eyes at night to sleep. Ivizia along with Tyrvaya nasal spray have changed my life. Prior to this I was up 5 times at night putting drops in and my eyeballs were still sticking to my eyes in the night and very painful.
(2) Best for night time
(2) Night time
(2) This just works
(3) Works well for overnight while sleeping.
(3) Great at hs, often allows me a nights sleep without need for touch up drops

OASIS TEARS (bottle, vials) (8, 6, 3)

(1).More gel like consistency
(1).My doctor recommended
(1) no preservatives
(2) I like to keep Oasis vials in the car so my eyes don't dry out when I am driving.
(2) Good all around
(2) Keeps eyes lubricated and was recommended by my eye surgeon
(2) When I tried this drop It doesn’t dry up and leave crusty residue
(3) It’s new for me and feels good

OASIS TEARS PLUS (bottle, vials) (15, 8, 3)

(1) My optometrist highly recommends it and it is just as good or better than anything else I have tried.
(1) I have had trouble finding a eye drop that doesn't irrate my eyes.
(1) Effects last longer
(1) A little thicker than others
(1) Keeps eyes lubricated and was recommended by my eye surgeon
(1) longer hydration and doesn't burn
(1) I was introduced to this through Dry Eye Shop and liked it the best. However, not readily available at a local store.
(1) Works best, lasts the longest, and doesn’t burn.
(1) It soothes the burning in my eyes and I can still see. I carry it around in my bra and have to use it every one to 3 hours.
(1) it's in a small vial, preservative free, and most viscous to protect the eye.
(1) It works well for me and I like the bottle so much better than vials.
(1) Last in eye longer
(1) comfort in the eye
(2) Thick and lasting
(2) Soothing and moisturizing
(2) This one works nearly as well as my favorite, but it is more expensive and harder to get.
(3) Good for days when my eyes are doing better but need a boost - especially before I drive -these drops never cause any blurring
(3) Oasis isn't cost effective.
(3) Just an all around soothing drop

OPTASE DRY EYE INTENSE (bottle, vials) (10, 4, 5)

(1) Has relief longer and doesn’t blur vision
(1) My eyes feel extremely comfortable and lubricated for a long while
(1) Long lasting
(1) Provides longer relief from dry eyes
(1) When I put it in the middle of the night, my eyes aren't as crusty in the morning as with other drops
(1) Seem to last longer
(1) Optase seems to give faster & better dry eye relief, soothing my eyes quicker!
(1) Lasts longer in the eye. Soothing
(2) Good everyday drop
(2) I use this for hydrating before using Miebo
(3) Another good one to use when eyes are especially dry and burning

OPTASE HYLO RELIEF (2, 3, 4)

(1) This drop, like so many others, does little for my severe dry eye. I like it because it does not cause pain when I use it and because of the bottle design.
I used to use the preservative free vials now I use these and they are so comforting to my eyes. I can get just 1 drop into my eyes which does not make a mess around my eyes and I'm not making a huge mess with dropper vials on bad days. I used to end up with a pile on my desk. Then I would accidently knock them down and well it was a mess. These are compact and fit in my purse. I can keep a backup bottle and there is room for it. Since I started using these I have had to use bandage lenses 90% less. It's awesome!
(2) The bottle dispenser
(2) easy to get in eye

OPTASE MGD (2, 1, 2)

(1) Just seems to bring longer lubrication for me
(1) I like the drop size/click
(3) Also lasts/soothes my severely dry eyes much longer
(3) It is the best at moisturizing, even though it does cause some fogging

REFRESH CELLUVISC (22, 17, 11)

(1) They moisturizing effect seems to last
(1) It's more viscous and it's PF
(1) Nice and thick - works great for my Scleral lenses.
(1) Viscosity
(1) They just work for my dry eye.
(1) It's a soothing gel that works better and longer for me than any other I have tried.
(1) Most soothing use at night- viscous enough to keep my eyes tightly shut all night
(1) It was prescribed because it seems to stay on the eye longer.
(1) It seems to stick to my eye better and keep it moist for longer than most things.
(1) More viscous than others, better lubrication
(1) Haven’t used any others
(1) i add to my sclerals and it seems thick and does not evarporate as easily, kepping my eyes moist for longer
(1) They help with fogging.
(1) Viscous
(1) They last longer for me.
(1) Longer lasting
(1) Best drop for me to add prior to insertion.
(1) Thickness so it doesn't evaporate immediately in my eye. No side effects
(1) this give my eyes comfort along with the Purilens inside the lens and I can wear them longer
(2) I use this one if I wake up in the night and my eyes are becoming dry despite adding ointment at bedtime. They really help avoid painful eyes in the morning.
(2) I like this thickness at night after my lenses have come out
(2) Helps me wear my contacts longer when added to saline
(2) It'll blur my vision for several minutes after, but MAN, Celluvisc really gets in there. I usually add a drop or two to my contacts before putting them on during the winter time.
(2) I use it at night about 2 to 3 times a night whenever I wake up. It coats and soothes my eyes and I wake up with less eye pain.
(2) Work well with my lenses
(2) Mainly use at night
(2) Great for inside the scleral lens bowl.
(2) Best for use in my sclerals according to my eye doctor
(2) Cannot use w sclerals
(2) This drop has saved me regarding fogging in my scleral lenses. I put about 2, maybe 3 drops in my contacts prior to insertion.
(3) Blurs vision a bit, but works well when I pair it with saline under my contacts, which I rarely wear
(3) Soothing.
(3) Works well at night. Ointments irritate my eyes.
(3) The gel gives a great feeling but it does blur my vision.

REFRESH OPTIVE (6, 6, 4)

(1) lasts longer
(1) best for use with sclerals says my eye doctor
(2) Soothing
(3) Price (70 in a box).
(3) Works well

REFRESH OPTIVE ADVANCED (4, 4, 2)

(1) I find it's more long lasting than the other Refresh drops. I haven't tried any non Refresh brands since I highly prefer disposable vials.
(1) The ability to close the vial
(2) I really like the overall feeling of the refresh mega 3 especially for nite use.
(2) Very emolient
(2) Fast dry eye relief, easy to use & carry.
(3) I use the bottle version- easily controlable

REFRESH OPTIVE MEGA (14, 11, 5)

(1) Seems to work the longest
(1) The only OTC I use. Actually soothes my very, very inflamed eyes.
(1) Recommended by my doctor
(1) These don't make my eyes even worse which is what several others did.
(1) Lasts/soothes my severely dry eyes much longer
(1) It has Flaxseed oil! And is supposed to stop tear evaporation
(1) I have meibomien gland dysfunction. Mega 3 seems to stay on and sooth more than others I’ve tried.
(1) Lasts longest and most soothing.
(1) It gives me about 2 more hours per day that I can wear my lenses. I switch from the regular Refresh to the mega version when it first came out.
(1) Soothes my eyes
(1) Soothing
(2) Leaves a lubricated feel on eyes
(2) flaxseed
(2) It has oils so is apparently better for my eyes do I use it preventatively, but not my favorite because of my eyes are already burning they sting
(2) Soothing without stinging
(2) Like the smooth feeling
(2) It's not as helpful as Systane, but briefly helps when my eyes hurt/itch/etc
(3) Soothing, recommended
(3) More lubricant
(3) Nothing really. It is just one I have been given to try. Has a lipid but doesn’t feel like much lubrication for very long compared to my first two choices. (And I have only tried three….too expensive and inconvenient to sample a large number of drops)

REFRESH PLUS (17, 17, 1)

(1) The ease of getting it in and the relief it gives
(1) preservative free, easy to use, can be "capped" for more than one use provided it's not contaminated with hands, etc
(1) It is soothing and never burns
(1) Works well with or without the sclerals in. Can usually find easily.
(1) In costco for a discount. Also walgreens brand
(1) Relieves dryness without clouding my vision. (Like I feel happens with Systane)
(1) Easy on the ey es, no film left behind
(1) I'm not allergic to the drops.
(1) I use this drop for the dry eye throughout the day. I have tried a few, but because I work with computers in a dry environment, this one seems to moisturize better.
(1) Convenience and price.
(2) Dr recommended
(2) Cheaper. Can purchase at Costco. I go through a dozen per day.
(2) I can easily get it at my drug store - convenience.
(2) I’m just used to them. They’re good for basic hydration.
(2) Makes my eyes feel great
(2) to help moisten my sclerals druing the day
(2) My best drop for throughout the day to keep dryness away.
(2) It’s just very soothing and does not irritate my eye
(2) I'm not allergic to Refresh Plus.
(2) I use this as well as the thicker drop - depends on need

REFRESH RELIEVA (bottle, vials) (9, 2, 6)

(1) Easy to use
(1) More lubrication than refresh Optive when I am wearing scleral lens
(1) Moisturizes without greasing up my scleral lenses.
(1) Comfort
(1) These rewet my contacts without gunking them up to much
(1) Dr said only use this
(1) lasts longer and not too expensive
(2) Most of the time this will help a little more than others with the burning sensation in the eye
(3) cost and use it frequently during the day and night in between Systane and Oasis at night
(3) I have really dry eyes and use Cequa and Miebo but use the drops I chose for added comfort
(3) I use this one on-the-go because it is reusable. However, I do not like this one as much as the Refresh Plus.

REFRESH RELIEVA PF Xtra (1, 3, 1)

(1) Refresh Relieva PF is thicker than most eye drops and provides soothing relief faster and it lasts longer than most eye drops.
(1) Eye specialist gave me a sample
(2) May just be refresh relieva pf and not xtra.
(2) Eye specialist gave me a sample
(3) makes my eyes feel good and there is less plastic waste than the vials

RETAINE MGD (1, 6, 3)

(1) Nothing else really works for me (and even then, the effects are not terribly long-lasting, but at least there is some relief); some in fact make the dryness worse.
(2) Includes a lipid
(2) Lasts/soothes my severely dry eyes much longer
(2) Think it helps keep my MGD at bay for a little while
(2) They’re relatively reasonably priced compared to others I like, and don’t leave any crud on my eyelashes
(3) Keeps my eyes lubricated for a long time
(3) Good overall drop
(3) Vision clears quick

SOOTHE (2, 0, 0)

(1) This one feels the best and has the ingredients I most need, without overdoing it.
(1) Preservative free, does not contain sodium carboxymethylcellulose (which seems to irritate my eyes), more affordable than Oasis

SOOTHE XP (1, 3, 0)

(1) It gives me a feeling of a very lightweight gel without bluring my vision and the feelling lasts longer than the other brands.
(2) I really loved Soothe XP for a minute, but with vials I find myself feeling guilty if I don’t finish one off within a day or starting a brand new vial 2 hours before bed… Bringing extra vials in public is also a pain. This drop is really substantial and almost feels as soothing as Miebo/EvoTears to put in. My eyes absolutely HAAAATE Systane Complete PF and the Retaine MGD one. My eyes also get bothered by the Optase MGD sometimes, so maybe most emulsion drops just aren’t for me. The only way it could be better would be if it had glycerin (like Retaine) or hyaluronic acid. The Optase MGD has literally everything I’d want in a drop, but somehow the final formulation of Soothe XP winds up being better for me…
(2) They don't hurt my eyes.

SYSTANE COMPLETE (bottle, vials) (9, 4, 1)

(1) bottle is easier to carry and it addresses MGD and tear deficiency
(1) It lasts longer and lubricates my eye better because the glycerin. I use preservatives free and it’s a bottle and not little vials like refresh PF. I hate the vials because I have little dogs and don’t want to drop the top plastic part then the dogs eat them. Plus I don’t want to carry a done of them.
(1) it feels soothing.
(1) It works better for me than Refresh for MGD.
(1) It works for me overnight. I have tried others that irritated my eyes. Systane Complete has worked for me for about a year now.
(2) I have not tried a lot of others. Used Systane the one time I didn't have my celuvisc.

SYSTANE HYDRATION (bottle, vials) (18, 6, 7)

(1) More comfortable, less fogging when used in sclerals
(1) Really soothing- doesn’t sting
(1) Lubricating, thicker, and can use in my scleral lenses
(1) cooling, soothing, longer-lasting
(1) No sting
(1) Easy to use and hydrates my eyes
(1) Bottle does not stay collapsed. Seem to need fewer
(1) Easy release from bottle.
(1) Good mix of thickness without being filmy over scleral lenses
(1) No preservatives
(1) Lasts longer
(1) I like the value of the MDPF bottles, provide long lasting feeling of moisture, and don't leave my eyelashes as gunky as Celluvisc.
(1) After trying a lot of different drops, this is the one that has best relieved my dry eye symptoms
(2) Easy to use
(2) This one lasts better, but can only use when sclerals are not in.
(3) Hycosan extreme is my third choice, but you didn’t list it here
(3) This has more of an oily texture so sometimes this works better for the burning or the super dryness.
(3) Decent price for PF multidose bottle.
(3) Good for my ATF
(3) They all last as long, but the last two make my eyes burn if I use them more than three time in a row.

SYSTANE ORIGINAL (2, 1, 3)

(1) no real difference
(2) I use it in the morning before inserting sclera lens to clean and prep eye
(3) I can easily get it at my drug store - convenience.

SYSTANE ULTRA (bottle, vials) (8, 8, 4)

(1) Moisturizing
(1) Does not irritate and really soothes my eyes.
(1) It seems to comfort my eyes longer than the other brands I've tried.
(2) Seem to be more comfortable.
(2) almost as good as Oasis
(2) I only use Systane if I run out of Retaine - it's the best of bad choices.
(2) I used these for almost a decade but it seemed like my eyes got more crusty in the morning after using them overnight
(2) lasts longer not too high priced
(2) Doesn't irritate my eyes
(3) best for rewetting while wearing contacts
(3) Back up brand
(3) These help, but Ivizia just makes my eyes feel the best.

THERATEARS (7, 6, 3) [not sold at DES]

(1) It is the closest to natural tears and a lighter drop for daytime. It is the only one I can use. No oil, glycerin, cellulose, Treyhalose or other additives that burn my eyes.
(1) They just seem to help more…and PF of course
(1) Dry eye therapy and nightime gel drops are PF and both contain borate buffers
(1) I use both the day and night Theratears. They seem less irritating to the eyes and a little more soothing.
(1) It ‘clears’ quickly. Not viscous
(1) Have used for years. It works for me.
(2) Nothing specific I like. But the bottle is large and easy to squeeze. Also, it doesn't have a ton of varieties to sort through ingredients.
(2) Helps reduce tear osmolarity.
(2) Gives my eyes a soothing feeling. The feeling lasts a little lomger than other brands
(3) TheraTears gel is a good alternative to celluvisc

THERATEARS EXTRA (0, 2, 2) [not sold at DES]

(2) It generally keeps my eyes comfortable all day with one application.

Reasons for your top favorite gel or ointment

GENTEAL GEL

It lasts a long time and really soothes my eyes
It does the trick I’m willing to try others
Doctor recommended
Very soothing when used before sleep
Ointments just make a gooey mess of my eyelashes that gets on my glasses, plus I don't think they help any better than nothing. Gels don't make a mess, and if you use an oil-based drop over top of them (the omega 3 Refresh Optive, or I have Miebo from the eye doctor), then it seems to keep moist for more of the night, too.
Works well
I use at night, they let me read in bed!
Works well for nighttime use, can't tolerate ointments or other products well
It works well
feels good, no infections
I don't know which ones of these are better, I only use it at night in the dead of Winter when it is dry and I am working 10-12 hour days and need something extra to help the dry eye.
I use the gel at night when I go to sleep. I've tried many brands and they all perform well but the genteal is free under the OTC section of my insurance.

GENTEAL OINTMENT

Last longer, thicker
Their nighttime ointment lasts best although it doesn’t always last through the night.
no special reason/also use systane ointment
They all have mineral oil or petroleum in them and I can't get away from it, so I just suffer. I may try another brand eventually.
Seems thickest
Affordable and just as good as more expensive options for overnight. Doesn’t hang around for long after waking up and get all over sclerals.
Easier to apply because it is a bit thicker (less mineral oil content)

OPTASE HYLO NIGHT

Good coverage
love the Vit A
Doesn’t bother my eyes
Recommend by my doctor
can still see
It doesn't get all dried out by the morning.
Trying this for the first time - so far I like it
Great dry eye relief, doesn’t seem to be too much excess residue in the AM.
it does not hurt and it feels comforting, it lasts till morning
Not greasy
This has been my favorite ointment, though I'm less picky about these

REFRESH PM

More comfortable, easier to remove before using lenses
Nothing. Habit / don't use much
It is similar to others I have tried and is okay. I don’t use it all the time, but when I need it (lids sticking to eyes overnight) it seems to be gone from the eye surface after about 4 hours
Good consistency, thickness (~50/50 Mineral oil/petrolatum). Other ointments too thick, messy; can't clear from eyes in am.
Pretty consistent all night.
It works the best.
It was recommended by my doctor.
Not as much petroleum as the other brands.
"I’ve tried a lot of them. Refresh PM has the best texture by far, very gel-like which is weird for a fully oil product. It does still get kind of dry for me in the mornings and I think I do better without any ointment…
Of the others, Optase Hylo Night is super nice because it doesn’t blur my vision nearly as much. When I go to the mall or a concert with fog machines or hiking on a windy day, this one is a savior if my eyes keep watering too much for a regular eye drop or Miebo to stay on the surface of my eyes. I also like that ointments have 1 or 2 ingredients usually. Less things to sensitize me.
Systane ointment is way too thick and gross. Nothing special. The Systane night gel is the best gel I’ve used, but polyquad or whatever preservative does make me nervous. IVizia gel irritates me sometimes. Soothe ointment is also basically nothing special. I can’t use steroids since they cause my eyes to hurt, but the Lotemax ointment and the Soothe are probably the exact same beyond active ingredient."
Thick vs. runny
Lowest percent of petrolatum in ointment. It smoothes into my eye more than any other ointment, causing only minimal blurry vision.
I only have to use it occasionally, and I usually use it around my eyes, not in my eyes. I recently had a batch that was recalled, so I'm not too happy about Refresh right now.
I think that this one used at night, allows the contacts to not get so foggy the next day.
Works for me, no problems
It is not quite as thick, has less petroleum than others.
Don't like gels and Refresh PM is the first one I tried so I stuck with it.
It seems to keep my eye more moisturized during the night, when used along with EcoEye goggles.
My eye stays hydrated all night

SOOTHE NIGHTTIME

It is free of lanolin-based alcohol.
The concentration of petrolatum and mineral oil provide better lubrication than others I have used that contain a higher concentration of petrolatum.
It successfully lubricates my eyes while I sleep and where I used to be able to purchase it, it was less expensive than other options
Not too runny and not too thick.
Lanolin free
Works best for me
Less allergic reaction

SYSTANE GEL

Last the longest and comfort
Very moisturizing
It doesn't leave a vaseline-type effect in my eyes the next day.
It lasts all night
Not dry eye in morning
Comfortable
The gels are pretty much the same.
soothes my eyes like no other
Thicker than the other drops and doesn't irritate my eyes like ointment seems to
Doesnt dry out like HMC gel at night.

SYSTANE PM

It doesn’t irritate my eyes
Seems to work well for me so I’ve continued to use it
Soothing
Doesn’t burn like others do
It is marginally better at relieving symptoms than other ointments that I have tried.
Seems to work the best for nights and long haul flights.
No irritation and really works at night for relief
Others irritate my eyes
Similar to others, but consistent availability
Thinner, doesn't cloud my vision as much and can be removed easier in the morniing
doesn't seem to cloud my vision as long in the morning
Easier to open - the medication that gives me dry eyes also causes skin issues

Which lubricant products have you tried?

Forms response chart. Question title: Which of the following products have you tried?. Number of responses: 214 responses.

More participant comments

Other then refresh I have not found one that works or does not cause the eyes to get red.
The Refresh line is what my ophthalmologist recommended
I have extremely sensitive eyes. It has been a struggle over the years to find products that soothe dry eye symptoms without irritation. [Give us a call, love to talk this through and see if I can come up with any suggestions]
I would like to know more about some of the Oasis products i see on list. [Pls reach out]
Since only Thera Tears and nighttime Ivizia have worked for me and everything else causes severe burning and more dryness I hope these are never ever discontinued. Also, Tyrvaya is an amazing breakthrough and thankfully not an eyedrop that I could have a bad reaction to.
Can you do a survey for allergy eye drops? What's everyone's favorite now that there aren't PF allergy drops on the market anymore? [Great idea! I just put this on the calendar for next week.]
Honestly, I'm not sure I'm remembering all drops I've tried/used over 15 or so years
Found that gel works better than ointment for me
I'm still looking for the Holy Grail.
I think it is safe to say that I have tried every OTC drop on the market although I may not remember how effective each was. But if it was for sale, I bought it and tried it. I have suffered from dry eye for 37 yeas and, at the moment, all drops are pretty much equally ineffective. I use the ones that cause not discomfort when applying. [Isn't that the truth - sometimes it's more about what doesn't hurt than what helps]
Generally when I wake in the night to use the bathroom I rinse my eyes with saline. If dry in the day I use Refreshe Optive.
Their ongoing expense when used regularly has nudged me to give punctal plugs a try [Makes good sense! Also, moisture chamber glasses]
I think that when I use them, my contacts have a better fit.
I wish there was an effective night gel that didn’t obscure your vision like an ointment [Yeah unfortunately that can't work but tape, goggles etc can sometimes help reduce the need for thick stuff]
Keep your eye drops with you at ALL yimes and Use the drops consistently. Use the drops before you have irritation/discomfort/pain. Highly recommend all DED pts use Hypochlorous spray solution in addition to drops for associated MGD. For Severe KCS, use Loteprednol 0.5% Gel for flares.
They cost a lot of money! I wish I didn't always have to spend money on eye products, but it's a fact of life. At least now, I don't waste it on trying different products - I know what works for me and what doesn't.
Eye drops used twice a day and very easy
I have RCE along with very dry eyes. The best nighttime routine for erosion prevention for me includes using a combination of Muro 128 ointment along with Soothe PM ointment. [p.s. we just started stocking both of those, at last....]
I also use a drop of Refresh Celluvisc in each scleral with the saline when I insert them.
It's important to find a great name brand.
I use Refresh Optive Mega 3 at night
Since I can no longer easily find Soothe Nightime Gel, I am currently using Retaine PM and it is working well.
Refresh products all make my dry eyes worse.
sometimes have trouble finding items at pharmacy
Rx- wise, I’ve used restasis, xidra , tyrvana w/little improvement, even irritation; now meibo w/some improvement
I wish there were more PF and more not using bad ingredients. [There really are quite a lot of PF - check this link. Also curious what you feel is a bad ingredient.]
This is a great reminder for me to get back into using ointments at night. I used to and I stopped. I wasn’t sure if it made a difference. I have realized that I usually can’t tell what makes a difference while I’m using it, but I sure can tell when I stop using it!
I rotate my best ones just in case I develop any kind of resistance; but always, ALWAYS preservative free in individual vials to avoid any kind of contamination
I wish i didn't have to use them, and I wish they were covered by medical insurance.
Make sure you're administering them properly by aiming for the little sac in the bottom of your eye and letting it sit there with your eyes closed for 30 seconds. Just putting it on your eyeball isn't enough.
I know that my eyes will never be comfortable like they were when i was younger, and before I had ALK/RK surgery and autoimmunity medical issues. They continue to become more difficult to deal with.
It seems when I first use a new eye drop/gel that it works okay for awhile (none of them have ever had a big impact) and then it stops being as helpful. It's almost as if my eyes get used to it and it's no longer effective. I mentioned this to my eye doctor and she didn't think that was possible for the eyes to get used to a drop or gel.
for some reason Systane gel (tube) and gel drops are my go to and superior to other products
Preservative free saline seems to be the best for keeping my super dry eyes moisturized while I wear my sclerals.
I dislike all ointments. [Me too]
I’ve got ocular rosacea, not sure if that’s why drops are so hit or miss for me. I give some of the ones that don’t work for me to my boyfriend, and he never has any issues with any of them. Go figure. I would really really really love if Soothe XP PF came in a bottle. I even tried the one in the bottle with polyquad, but it seems to be a much higher concentration vs Systane Gel that it hurts and feels like it’s emulsifying my eyes
I have used and like systane gel in the bottle
I hate the Refresh products, and anything with hydroxyethylcellulose. Those leave a film on my eyelashes but I also find they make my eyes dryer and irritated. Autologous tears are my absolute favorite when I can get them.
The only thing is there a better dry eye drop that is easier to squeeze to get the drop into your eyes? Check out this guide to the different bottle types or email us for suggestions
I still haven't found one that's as hydrating as the Optase MGD Advanced but doesn't cause lens fogging. If you have any suggestions that would be great! Lens type? Reach out, love to help
It would be wonderful if all would be recommended in terms of dry eye type
You have to experiment and find products that work for your own eyes. There's not one solution for everyone.
When you find what works, stick with it!
Otc drops, ointments aren’t enough for me
I am not able to use gels or ointments. My eye lid does not close, I'm not able to get rid of those products the next morning, causing blurred vision most of the morning.
If you can get muro 128 ointment or solution, i will buy it from your site We got it!
I've suffered from MGD for 10+ years, and I need relief the most overnight. Most drops dry up and/or become crusty overnight, and I find that the ointments don't provide the lubrication I need. Any suggestions would be welcomed! I'd suggest gentle silicone tape if poss or maybe a shield. Personally I use Blinkjoy even though it's bulky.
I have found the entire line of Similasan drops outstanding and so compatible with the other drops, gels I’ve used. I find it so unfortunate they are not allowed to sell in the USA. Unfortunate but after the factory's inspection report, kinda scary too
Honestly drops all seem the same to me. I can't perceive differences in them based on ingredients. And so called gel drops don't seem to be that different either.
There is a free TerraCycle program for recycling any brand of eye product containers. I recommend everyone use it. Those single use vials add up. Yes I love that program
Have nighttime Lagophthalmos and sclerals. Not certain how to make sure ointment is cleared from eyes before inserting lenses. We did a survey on that - check it out
No one is significantly better than another.
While I like the Ivizia gel, I do not like the small viles
They help somewhat but not completely. My symptoms are the worst in the middle of the night and nothing completely helps with that. Mepitac tape? that's my go-to at the worst times for worst eye
I tried so many I won't list as it does not help as I can't remember the names properly at some point I went cold turkey and reslized my pain and symptoms about the same once the drops got out of my system. In a way my eyes had after a decade of use become addicted to the drops so the de to took a while but I find there's so little relief from the drops I only now use when I'm very much struggling and change of season and then I stop so my eyes don't get addicted again maybe you understand what I mean but my symptoms are just comforted briefly by drops so it's been better for me to get used to the pain which sounds crazy but the drops just don't go far enough to make that sense of dependency that comes when you use them so long, worth it I understand what you mean
When I first started using eye drops, I used those with preservative in. Then my dryness keep getting worse and worse. Then my Eye Dr. told me that I should not use them no more than 4 times a day. Anyhow, now I need to put preservative free eye drops in every 7 minutes. Eye drops with preservative in should say on the label that they should not be used more than 4 times a day.
I’m hesitant to get any other than what my dr recommended and I will only purchase through that company because your research has scared me off other drops and other places to purchase (due to the fake drops) I'm so glad you're being cautious. This really is a time to be very careful - lotta scary drops out there.
So far, Optase products seem to work the best, as they are all-natural. Because they are expensive, I don’t use them all the time, I use a mix of products. exactly, me too. I kind of make the rounds between systane hydration, biotrue hydration boost and optase intense
I know there's other types of drops, but having the expense of trying something that might not work well is stopping me. I like to read comments online for what others have tried and liked. Yeah I wish we could offer a collection of samples :)
Thinner drops (watery ones) make my eyes feel dry quickly. Some have side effects (like burning or redness). It's funny everyone really is different. For some people ONLY thin drops are tolerable (note how many people voted for Refresh Plus which is thin) and for others they do nothing.
I keep trying other drops, but never work like Oasis Plus for me Definitely a winner through the years - more than 15 years now
The best drops actually are the ones made from my blood, especially the PRP drops
The night gels/ointments leave residue that I cannot remove before inserting sclerals
Generally, the ointments are not my favoirtes because they leave residue on my eyelids that takes extra effort and cleaning to remove.
I'm grateful to be able to use OTC products and get good relief of my symptoms.
Those with omega 3 seem to irritate my eyes the most leaving them feeling washed out
Eye drops are a life-saver for dry eyes, but I wish I could find a way to prevent them from building up on my eyelashes and eyelids. By the end of the day, my lashes are encrusted and I can peel dried sheets of congealed eye drops off of my lids. The buildup causes severe skin irritation on my eyelids, often leading to raw, cracked skin. I'd be interested in knowing how many other people suffer from the same issue. Lid wipes? Hypochlorous? Or just a tissue for excess at the time? also apply as small a drop a possible - one drop is really way too much for the eye
I switch from brand to brand in hopes of finally finding 'the one'. Each brand starts out working great until it doesn't and then I go online searching for new products. My go to starting point for new information is always The Dry Eye Shop. (heart)
Muro helps my dry eye problems when it is severe, Optimel honey drops helps control the bacterial that grows in and around my eyes and I use it when things get bad.
I prefer preservative free in bottles such as Refresh Relieva PF because there is less waste of eye drops. Most of the single use vials runs down my cheek because my eye only holds one drop before the rest runs down my cheek.
No matter what for me they doesnt work.
Hyaluronic acid seems to be the key for my eyes to feel good — inevitably, drops with that as an ingredient are more likely to be winners. I wish there were more options with it, including more gels and ointments.

Favorite Eye Drops (11-12/2024)Updated 2 months ago