Eye Drops

Match the eye drop to the symptom, not to a familiar name. Use these three starting points before you buy.

1. Mild, occasional dryness or stinging → choose artificial tears, gentle enough to use often through the day without blurring vision.
2. Severe dryness or grittiness on waking → choose eye gel, a thicker formula that stays on the eye longer, best used before bed.
3. Redness with thick discharge, possible infection → ask a pharmacist about antibiotic ointment before self-treating.

If your symptoms don't fit cleanly into one category, keep recurring, or you're simply unsure, talk to a pharmacist or eye doctor instead of guessing.

Dry eye happens when the eye makes too few tears or the tears evaporate too fast — common with long screen time, air-conditioned rooms, or simply getting older. Artificial tears are always the first choice.

• For mild to moderate dryness, use 3-4 times daily — such as Vislube, a preservative-free formula suited to frequent use.
• For a bottle that lasts through the day, Cellufresh comes in convenient single-dose vials.

If regular artificial tears still leave your eyes gritty each morning, it may be time to step up to a thicker eye gel instead.

Both are types of eye drops for dryness, but they differ in viscosity and how long they stay on the eye's surface.

• Artificial tears — thin and quick-absorbing, ideal for frequent use during the day or while working.
• Eye gel, such as Vidisic Eye Gel — thicker and longer-lasting, better suited to severe dryness or bedtime use since it won't need reapplying while you sleep.

One caution: eye gel can blur vision briefly after use, so avoid it right before driving or close-focus tasks. Browse the full range at our artificial tears collection.

Antibiotic eye ointment, such as Terramycin, treats bacterial eye infections only — it is not an everyday dry-eye drop.

• Best suited to red eyes with thick yellow-green discharge, or eyelids stuck together on waking.
• Apply a thin strip to the lower eyelid as directed by a pharmacist, typically 2-4 times daily.

Avoid using it for more than 5-7 days without medical advice. If an infection is severe enough that a doctor also prescribes oral antibiotics, always finish the full course exactly as directed.

Not always. Most red eye is caused by a virus or an allergy, neither of which responds to antibiotics at all.

• Viral red eye usually brings clear, watery discharge, mild itching, and clears on its own within 1-2 weeks.
• Allergic red eye tends to be very itchy, affects both eyes, and comes with other allergy symptoms.
• Bacterial red eye causes thick, sticky discharge and eyelids stuck together in the morning — this is the only group that responds to antibiotic ointment.

If you're not sure which one you have, check with a pharmacist before buying antibiotic ointment on your own.

Preservatives let a bottle of artificial tears last for weeks after opening, but frequent use can irritate some eyes.

• Preserved formulas — larger bottles, usable for 4-6 weeks once opened; fine for people instilling drops up to 4 times a day.
• Preservative-free formulas — single-use vials, better for anyone dosing more than 4 times daily, contact lens wearers, or eyes sensitive to preservatives.

Neither is universally "better" — it depends on how often you use drops and how sensitive your eyes are. If preserved tears ever sting, switching to a preservative-free formula is worth trying.

Yes, but the type matters and so does timing.

• Most preservative-free artificial tears are safe with lenses in or out, but always check the label first.
• Some preserved formulas can build up on lens material — remove lenses before instilling, then wait 15-20 minutes before putting them back in.
• Antibiotic ointment — always remove contact lenses during an active eye infection, and don't wear them again until symptoms have fully cleared.

If you're unsure whether a specific eye drop is lens-safe, ask a pharmacist before buying.