YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE BEST
EYE DROP FOR DRY EYES OF 2024
Today we'll show you what to look for in an effective eye drop, what to avoid, and how the top five measure up for the best dry eye relief.
Let’s face it: Dry eyes are a growing problem facing people of all ages and it directly affects the health of your eyes and your eyesight.
Although our natural aging process is still the most common cause of eye strain, irritation and dry scratchy eyes, there’s also another culprit making matters even worse: technology and increased time spent looking at screens.
That’s why it's never been more important to have a safe and reliable way to moisturize your eyes daily and avoid far more serious vision problems from taking root!
Dry Eyes
On the surface dry eyes might just seem like a nuisance, but long term dry eyes and eye strain can lead to vision loss and damage to your eyes.
Especially as we age our eyes become even more sensitive and natural tear production falls sharply adding to the problem.
If you’ve experienced dry, scratchy, unfocused eyes you might be inclined to reach for a bottle of eye drops or “artificial tears” and generally speaking that seems like a good idea right?
But do you really know what’s in the drops you’re putting in your eyes?
We set out to find the answers you need to make the right decision about your eye health.
We’ve compiled the top 5 brands of artificial tears that relieve dry eye irritation and put them into this handy guide to give you the best possible options and steer you clear of brands that might actually do more harm than good if used over the long term.
THE CONTENDERS
Here’s what Arthur Berkowitz Senior Editor had to say about artificial tear drops:
“Daily use of artificial tear drops is recommended to help relieve dry eye symptoms and potentially avoid the need for more serious eye treatments. However, 89% of the eye drops don’t target the root cause of dry eye, and some can even make it worse. Our team has compiled a list of what we have found to be the top artificial tears in the dry eye category on the market today.”
Artificial tear drops offer one of the best ways to keep dry eyes moisturized. But the biggest problem for consumers is that the market is absolutely flooded with different kinds of eye drops.
Which drops do you chose to put in your eyes?
There are dozens of products that simply don’t help with dry eyes and don’t make the cut. And the results of our comparison below might shock you.
We’ll count down from the best to the worst so that you can make the very best choice when it comes to your dry eyes and overall eye health.
There’s so much misinformation out there on the internet about dry eyes and what products you can use with confidence that you’re helping and not hurting your eyes it’s mind boggling.
You need to know and understand exactly how to help heal and keep your eyes safe from harm and this guide will clarify it all for you.
So what are you waiting for? Read on to see 2024’s top-rated artificial tear drops available on the market that can provide instant relief for your dry, scratchy eyes.
First off let’s discuss what to look for in a good artificial tear drop.
What To Look For In An Artificial Tear Drop?
✅ THE RIGHT FORMULA.
The best artificial tears are specifically designed to target dry eyes and help you retain moisture and lubricate the eye’s surface.
They should also provide instant relief from the scratchy feeling that you may be experiencing and any other irritation caused from dryness.
However, many of the substandard brands and even some very popular brands don’t actually lubricate your eyes at all. They actually use preservatives and chemicals designed to constrict the blood vessels in your eyes so they appear less red, but the reality is they can actually make your dry eye condition worse over the long term. The key to maintaining healthy, moisturized eyes is finding a product that has a natural formulation with no preservatives or chemicals that could do more harm than good.
One key ingredient in more natural eye drops is called Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium. It’s a mouthful but it’s the #1 ingredient to look for in a quality eye drop. It’s been proven to help your eyes by replicating the structure of your natural tears, providing round the clock lubrication and comfort.
✅ PRESERVATIVE FREE.
As our eyes become dry or irritated, they get more sensitive to preservatives and other chemicals found in most eye drops. Make sure that drops touting themselves as “Preservative Free” are in fact 100% preservative free. These are the best moisturizing eye drops because it is just like adding natural tears to your eyes.
Yes, preservatives might allow brands to extend their shelf life, but they don’t do any favors to your dry irritated eyes. In fact, the longer you use an eye drop that contains chemicals or preservatives, you can actually be making matters worse from extended use.
The very best artificial tears on the market are 100% preservative free and mimic your natural tears in a way that won’t harm your eyes in the long term.
✅ GOOD PRICE.
There are so many big name eye drops out there that are far more expensive than they should be. The dry eye game is a big business, but nobody should have to fork out $100 - $500 a month with repeat trips to the drug store just to try and maintain well lubricated healthy eyes. Save time and money by ordering your drops online whenever possible.
DROPS TO AVOID:
❌ DROPS NOT MADE FOR DRY EYES
❌ PRESERVATIVES AND OTHER “CHEMICALS”
❌ INCONVENIENCE & INFLATED DRUG STORE PRICES
With that said, let’s take a look at the top 5 eye drops on the market and find out which one comes out on top as the best choice for you and your family.
We’ll break them down to give you all the information you need to make the right decision.
We did exhaustive research on these brands with the metrics provided by our Smarter Reviews Ranking System and publishings from top eye health experts. Plus we’ve taken into consideration hundreds of reviews from people who are suffering from dry eyes just like you.
THE 5 BEST DROPS FOR DRY EYE RELIEF
#1.RAIN Eye Drops – Preservative Free Formula Premium Artificial Tear Drops That Are 100% Preservative Free
PROS
- Uses clinically-supported technologies
- Utilizes CMS Eye Moisture ingredients for more natural artificial tears
- Contains 100% preservative-free formula: Silver Sulfate free and Paraben free
- Doctor recommended formula
- Has researched ingredients
- Made in a GMP and FDA-approved facility
- Has convenient online availability and good pricing compared to similar products
- Approved for daily use to treat all dry eye symptoms
- 30-day, risk-free, money-back, product guarantee
- Fast and FREE shipping to anywhere in the USA
CONS
- Due to popularity, is sometimes on backorder/sold out
- Only available for online purchase from the manufacturers, not in retail stores.
Conclusion
The sheer number of unique benefits makes RAIN Eye Drops the easy pick for number one.
Only natural ingredients are used which are supported by clinical studies. RAIN™ is also backed by exemplary customer service satisfaction ratings and is recommended by a highly respected doctor who specializes in dry eyes. These drops target the root cause of dry eyes by lubricating the surface of your eye to help retain the eye’s natural moisture needed to protect your vision and see comfortably.
RAIN™ is a truly effective dry eye solution without any harmful side effects.
Their return policy was also top of its class – a comprehensive, 30-day, risk-free, money-back guarantee, proving the company stands behind its products — a huge advantage over the competition. Paired with RAIN’s total effectiveness and preservative-free formula that rivaled any other product we found, RAIN™ is our #1 pick.
UPDATE: RAIN™ currently has a promotion offering 25% OFF plus free shipping, and a discounted bottle of RAIN™ Eye & Vision Support gummies.
Promotion’s Expiration day:
December 28th, 2024
OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
OTHER EYE DROPS NOT WORKING?
✅ This DOCTOR APPROVED Dry Eye Test May Hold The Answer…
**PLEASE ANSWER HONESTLY - NO EMAIL NEEDED**
#2. Walgreens Lubricant Eye Drops Premium Artificial Walgreens Lubricant Eye Drops That Are 100% Preservative Free
PROS
- Features sterile moisture drops for dry eyes
- Available in national department stores and sometimes online
- Descriptive explanations as to what their product can do
- Preservative-free eye drop formula
- Walgreens staff recommended
CONS
- One of the most expensive eye drop products on the market at $26.41/oz.
- Website is often out of stock
- Must ask staff to unlock anti-theft shelf at Walgreens to buy the product
- Product is not made available directly thru the manufacturer
Conclusion
Walgreens knows what they’re doing when it comes to personal care products. Their effective preservative-free formula works to rejuvenate dry eyes and moisture without causing irritation from daily use. The product also has numerous reported benefits.
Unfortunately, finding the product can be inconvenient and the $26.41/oz price is quite high. Thankfully, there are other high-quality eye care products that have both preservative-free formulas and convenient online ordering at a lower price.
#3. Thera Tears
PROS
- Available online and in certain retailers
- Contains ingredients meant to restore eye’s nature balance
- Email and phone number are provided for questions
- Company was originally started by a doctor
- Can be used alongside other eye care products
CONS
- Contains harmful preservatives
- Bottle tip can easily become contaminated
- Contains Dequest, an oxidative-type preservative
- Some customers have reported problems with eye irritation from daily use
- The packaging reduces the sterilization of the product after opening
Conclusion
Thera Tears is owned by Akorn, an American generic pharmaceuticals manufacturer. The company develops, manufactures and markets generic and prescription drugs as well as animal and consumer health products.
Earlier this year, Akorn filed for bankruptcy after unease surrounding its quality control methods resulted in a failed takeover bid and warning letters from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Their line of eye drops mostly contain preservatives which gives them a longer shelf life and cheaper packaging requirements.
#4. Visine
PROS
- They offer multiple styles with different purposes of their basic formula
- Available online and in many corner stores
- Made by a company with long established brand recognition
- Very cheap price – less than $2 per bottle
CONS
- Contains harmful preservatives and redness removers
- Not made for dry eyes
- Active ingredients focus on constricting blood vessels
- Contains chemicals that are extremely dangerous if ingested.
- Some customers have reported problems with eye irritation from daily use
- The small bottle and formula make it not recommended for daily use
Conclusion
The Visine formula was created in the 1990s by a team that wanted to remove redness from the eyes. This makes for an impressive history and a unique story, but recent advances have made eye drop products even better and more suitable for dry eye symptoms.
One of the key missing ingredients is CMS eye moisturizer which is available in cheaper, safer formulas that can increase the comfort, look, and feel of your eyes. While Visine lacks CMS, a dangerous hydrochloride based chemical is present, which bumps it down our list.
Though the price is quite cheap, the lack of eye lubricant ingredients provides substantial moisture to soothe dry eyes and protect them. Visine works as a simple redness remover but modern eye drop products that do so much more.
#5. Lumify
PROS
- Available through several retailers such as Walgreens, Target, and Wal-Mart
- Targets redness with a lower risk of major side effects
- CVS has it online for $31.98 + tax
- Contains no bleach or dyes
CONS
- Contains harmful preservatives and redness removers
- Active ingredients only work for contricting blood vessels, not for dry eyes
- Contains other active chemicals.
- Some customers have reported problems with eye irritation from daily use
- Small bottle makes it one of the most expensive eye drops per oz
- No useful CMS Eye Moisturizer or lubricants that are on the cutting edge of dry eye care products
Conclusion
Lumify has a wide distribution and actually uses less harmful chemicals in its ingredients than other redness removers. Although it was formulated with doctors leading the studies, reading about how the active ingredients actually work leads you to the realization that this product is not designed to relieve dry eye symptoms. The active ingredients in fact are intended to constrict blood vessels in the eye to cover up redness.
Lumify is widely available in several retailers, allowing for easy access. Many of the companies that sell this product also have their own return policies. However, the price is relatively high when you consider the alternatives that provide well-rounded results and the moisture protection needed for dry eye relief.
OTHER EYE DROPS NOT WORKING?
✅ This DOCTOR APPROVED Dry Eye Test May Hold The Answer…
**PLEASE ANSWER HONESTLY - NO EMAIL NEEDED**
Sources:
https://www.biospace.com/article/eye-drop-dispenser-market-in-depth-analysis-of-key-factors-driving-or-restraining-the-growth-of-the-market
https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-18521/carboxymethylcellulose-sodium-ophthalmic-eye/details
https://www.healthline.com/health/preservative-free-eye-drops
https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2020/01/18/how-visine-eye-drops-in-the-mouth-can-kill-here-are-two-cases/#12cef1631eae
https://www.walgreens.com/q/eye+drops
https://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/redness-relief-eye-drops
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/news/new-over-counter-eye-whitening-drop-lumify
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/health-care/akorn-files-bankruptcy-after-failed-takeover-fda-warnings
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20302969/
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