The 11 Best Eye Drops to Relieve Dry Eyes

Best Overall

Systane Complete PF Eye Drops

$20 $16 at Amazon $18 at Target $18 at Walmart

Why We Like It

Dr. Douglas recommends Systane Complete PF Drops as a reputable brand. These 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. 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

$16 $15 at Amazon $15 at Target $12 at Walmart

Why We Like It

If you experience the occasional moderate dry eye, Refresh Tears Lubricant Eye Drops 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

$20 at Amazon $13 at Target $14 at Walmart

Why We Like It

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

$20 $17 at Amazon View on Eyedropshop.com

Why We Like It

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

$16 $10 at Amazon $10 at Target $15 at Walgreens

Why We Like It

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

View on Mycorneacare.com

Why We Like It

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

View on Amazon $14 at Target $15 at Walmart

Why We Like It

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

View on Amazon

Why We Like It

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

$26 $18 at Amazon $26 $15 at Target $16 at Walmart

Why We Like It

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. They’re also 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

View on Amazon $12 at Walmart $15 at Walgreens

Why We Like It

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

$30 $21 at Amazon $27 at Walgreens $23 at Walmart

Why We Like It

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