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Byrdie / Jessica Juliao
Dry, red, and irritated eyes are uncomfortable, and can leave you feeling preoccupied. “More people than ever are suffering from dry, irritated, red eyes that can feel itchy or gritty as if there’s a foreign body in your eyes,” says ophthalmologist Diane Hilal-Campo, MD. Credit not only the obscene amount of time we all spend staring at electronic screens but also the new norm of mask-wearing; masks cause air to flow upward toward the eyes and evaporate tears, exacerbating and even causing dryness, she explains.
Enter the beauty of a good eye drop, which can help ease discomfort instantly. Even though you probably just pop into a drugstore or rummage through your medicine cabinet and grab the first bottle you can find, it’s important to note that not all eye drops are created equal. They rely on different ingredients and can have different functions and mechanisms of action, making it important to choose the right one for you.
We conducted hours of research on the best eye drops, evaluating each on their formula, concerns targeted, and dosage. After considering dozens of options and consulting a board-certified ophthalmologist, we landed on the following best in show.
Best Overall
Systane Lubricant Eye Gel Drops
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Amazon
Thick, gel-like consistency
Ideal for nighttime use
Long-lasting
May temporarily blur vision
These lubricating drops (which are a favorite of Drew Barrymore, who sang their praises on Instagram) feel as natural as your tears. Per the name, the texture is on the thicker side, more gel- than liquid-like, making it a great option if you want to ensure long-lasting moisture and minimize how often you need to use it throughout the day. In related news, they’re also great to use pre-bedtime to keep your eyes lubricated overnight.
Price at time of publish: $14
Active Ingredients: Polyethylene glycol 400, propylene glycol | Concerns: Dryness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.34 oz.
Best Budget
Refresh Tears Lubricant Eye Drops
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Amazon
A little goes a long way
Quick relief
Good value
Preservative-free
Not very long-lasting
Super hydrating and super gentle (they don’t even sting when you first apply them), these check all of the basic moisturizing eye drop boxes. They work quickly and ring in at a very wallet-friendly price, in the event you want to stock up on multiple bottles to keep on hand at all times.
Price at time of publish: $10
Active Ingredients: Carboxymethylcellulose sodium | Concerns: Dryness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.5 oz.
Best Drugstore
Refresh Relieva
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Amazon
Preservative-free
Soothing formula
Easy to use
Expensive per ounce
As a general rule of thumb, Dr. Hillal-Campo says opting for preservative-free formulas is best, and this is one of her favorites. “It’s a great, all-around dry eye relief product. It contains carboxymethylcellulose and glycerin, which are commonly used, but also contains sodium hyaluronate, which makes it very soothing,” she explains. FYI, double-check to make sure you’re getting the preservative-free version as there’s also a variant that does contain preservatives.
Price at time of publish: $14
Active Ingredients: Carboxymethylcellulose, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate | Concerns: Dryness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.33 fl. oz.
Best Drugstore, Runner-Up
Visine Dry Eye Relief Lubricating Eye Drops
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Amazon
Affordable
Quick relief
Can’t be used while wearing contacts
This brand may be best known for drops that combat redness, but they also make this straightforward option to help add back 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.
Price at time of publish: $10
Active Ingredients: Polyethylene glycol, glycerin | Concerns: Dryness, burning, itching | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.5 oz.
Best for Mild Dryness
Blink Tears Lubricating Eye Drops
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Amazon
Preservatives break down over time
Quick relief
Packaging can be messy
If your dryness is on the mild side, 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 works instantly, making your eyes feel so much more comfortable.
Price at time of publish: $16
Active Ingredients: Polyethylene glycol | Concerns: Dryness, itchiness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 1 oz.
Best for Moderate Dryness
TheraTears Extra Dry Eye Therapy
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Amazon
Preservative breaks down on contact with eye
Thin consistency
Not as hydrating as other formulas
For more moderate dryness, this formula is a great choice. Created by an ophthalmologist and the result of nearly two decades of research (color us impressed), it’s an electrolyte-balanced option that does a great job at hydrating the eye. Plus, it’s another option that’s preservative-free.
Price at time of publish: $19
Active Ingredients: Sodium carboxymethylcellulose | Concerns: Dryness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 1 oz.
Best for Severe Dryness
GenTeal Tears Lubricant Eye Gel
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Amazon
Ideal for nighttime use
A little goes a long way
Thick, gel-like consistency
May temporarily blur vision
A thick gel, like this, is best for the most extreme dryness—you know, the kind that can hurt. Just a tiny squirt fully coats your eye and delivers long-lasting relief, whether you’re using it day or night. 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.
Price at time of Publish: $13
Active Ingredients: Hypromellose | Concerns: Dryness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.34 oz.
Best for Redness
LUMIFY Redness Reliever Eye Drops
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Amazon
Eases redness
Quick relief
Small package
More often than not redness and dryness go hand-in-hand. Enter these redness relieving drops, which use brimonidine, an active ingredient that completely knocks out redness in less than one minute. 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.
Price at time of publish: $14
Active Ingredients: Brimonidine tartrate | Concerns: Redness | Dosage: 1 drop every 6 to 8 hours | Size: 0.08 oz.
Best Multitasker
Similasan Complete Eye Relief
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Amazon
Multi-purpose
Good value
Natural ingredients
Short shelf life
These standout drops address not only dryness but pretty much every eye problem we could think of: redness, watering, burning, grittiness, and irritation. But equally noteworthy is the fact that this is the only homeopathic option on the list, relying on natural ingredients such as wildflower known as Eyebright rather than chemicals.
Price at time of publish: $16
Active Ingredients: Belladonna, euphrasia officinalis, mercurius sublimatus | Concerns: Redness, watering, burning, dryness | Dosage: 2 to 3 drops as needed | Size: 0.33 oz.
Best Oil-Based
Ocusoft RETAINE MGD Ophthalmic Emulsion Eye Drops
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Amazon
Preservative-free
Long-lasting
Contains mineral oil
“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.
Price at time of publish: $25
Active Ingredients: Mineral oil | Concerns: Dryness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.01 oz.
Best for Contact Lens Wearers
Opti-Free Replenish Rewetting Drops
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Amazon
Suitable for contact lens wearers
Hydrating formula
Quick relief
Contains preservatives
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 that may be irritating.
Price at time of publish: $12
Active Ingredients: Citrate/borate buffer, sodium chloride | Concerns: Dryness | Dosage: 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.33 oz.
Best Single-Use
Bausch & Lomb Soothe XP Emollient (Lubricant) Eye Drops - Preservative Free
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Amazon
Hydrating formula
Long-lasting
Contains mineral oil
“Some people prefer drops that come in individual-use vials, which they find easy to carry and use,” points out Dr. Hilal-Campo. These fit the bill, another preservative-free drop that moisturizes the eye, prevents tear loss, and comes in single-use, sterile vials.
Price at time of publish: $12
Active Ingredients: Mineral oil | Concerns: Dryness, burning | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.5 oz.
Best for Irritation
Rohto Cool Max Redness Relief Eye Drops
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Amazon
Cooling effect
Long-lasting
Good value
Menthol can irritate sensitive eyes
A secret weapon in the arsenal of many pro makeup artists, these drops instantly cool upon contact, a soothing sensation that can’t be beaten when your eyes are not only dry but also red and irritated. And per the dryness part of things, they rely on a micro-emulsion formula that targets all three layers of tear film to keep your eyes comfortably lubricated for up to eight hours.
Price at time of publish: $16
Active Ingredients: Polysorbate, naphazoline hydrochloride | Concerns: Redness, burning, dryness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops up to 4x daily | Size: 0.4 oz.
Best Preservative-Free
Biotrue Hydration Boost Dry Eye Drops
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Amazon
Preservative-free
Suitable for contact lens wearers
Expensive per ounce
Those with super sensitive eyes may want to opt for preservative-free options, and this is a choice pick. Plus, not only are they 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.
Price at time of publish: $10
Active Ingredients: Glycerin | Concerns: Dryness, burning, itching | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.33 oz.
Final Verdict
The SYSTANE Gel Drops are our overall favorite dryness-relieving drop, with a thicker texture that makes them extremely lubricating. The Refresh Relieva Eye Drops are inexpensive and preservative-free and so are the Bausch & Lomb Soothe XP Emollient (Lubricant) Eye Drops - Preservative Free, which come in handy, single-use vials. And for contact lens wearers, the Opti-Free Replenish Rewetting Drops, which you can drop in even while still wearing your contacts, can’t be beaten.
Meet the Expert
Dr. Diane Hilal-Campo is a board-certified ophthalmologist in Oakland, New Jersey. She is renowned for her expertise in correcting a wide range of disorders of the eye, both medically and surgically.
What to Look for in Eye Drops for Dry Eyes
Preservative-Free
According to Dr. Hilal-Campo, preservative-free drops, often marketed as preservative-free tears, are the best over-the-counter drops for dry eyes, given that preservatives can be irritating and exacerbate dryness for many.
Active Ingredients
Common ingredients used in these types of drops include carboxymethylcellulose, glycerin, polyethylene glycol, and propylene glycol. It is possible to have an allergic reaction to these, 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’s best for you,” points out Dr. Hilal-Campo.
How We Researched & Tested
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. As a long-time contact lens wearer, she’s very familiar with a dry eye situation (and the best products that can help).
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