Artificial Tears
Light, watery drops for regular daytime relief.
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Eye Drops and Lubricants for Dry Eye
Lubricating eye drops are the everyday foundation of dry eye relief. This is your starting point for understanding the types, choosing the right one, and shopping with confidence. Browse the guides, shop by product type, and find answers to the most common questions.
Key takeaways
- Lubricating drops, also called artificial tears, are the first-line, everyday treatment for most dry eye.
- They come in a few types: watery artificial tears, thicker gels, night-time ointments, and preservative-free versions.
- If you use drops more than about four times a day, preservative-free is gentler on the eye surface.
- Drops soothe symptoms and steady the tear film, but they work best alongside the right underlying care.
- The best choice depends on your type of dry eye, so your eye doctor can help you match a product to your eyes.
Quick answer
Which eye drops should I use?
For most people, start with a quality artificial tear. Choose preservative-free if you dose often or have sensitive eyes, a thicker gel for stronger or longer-lasting relief, and an ointment at night. If your dryness is evaporative, from blocked oil glands, drops help but heat and lid care matter too. Below you will find guides to the best options and a way to shop by product type.
What lubricating drops do
Moisture for the surface, and a steadier tear film
Lubricating eye drops add moisture to the surface of the eye and help a thin or unstable tear film hold together. That relieves the dryness, grittiness, and fluctuating, blurry vision that come when the tear film breaks up too fast. Thinner artificial tears are easy to use throughout the day, gels last longer but can briefly blur vision, and ointments give overnight protection. Preservative-free drops come in single-use vials or special multi-dose bottles and are the gentler choice for frequent use.
Lubricant eye drops are a first-line, foundational therapy for dry eye, and preservative-free options are preferred when drops are used frequently to avoid surface irritation from preservatives. Source: TFOS DEWS III Management and Therapy Report (2025). Full citation at the end of this page.
Best Guides
Start with these guides to choose the right drop for your eyes.
Buying Guide
Best Eye Drops for Dry Eye
The main types of drops and how to choose the right one for your eyes.
Read the Guide
Buying Guide
Best Preservative-Free Eye Drops
Why preservative-free matters for frequent dosing and sensitive eyes.
Read the Guide
Nutrition
Omega-3s for Eye Hydration
How omega-3s support the tear film from the inside out, and what the evidence says.
Read the Guide
Ingredient
Hyaluronic Acid Eye Drops
What it does on the surface of the eye, and which drops use it.
Read the GuideBest Eye Drops by Symptom
Not sure what to search for? Start from how your eyes feel.
Buying Guide
Best Eye Drops for Burning Eyes
Gentle, soothing drops for the burning and stinging of dry eye, and what to avoid.
Read the Guide
Buying Guide
Best Eye Drops for Watery Dry Eyes
Why dry eyes water, and the drops that steady the tear film so the tearing settles.
Read the Guide
Buying Guide
Best Nighttime Drops, Gels, and Ointments
Thicker overnight options that protect the surface while you sleep.
Read the GuideShop by Product Type
Browse the full lubricants collection, or jump in by the type that fits your routine.
Gels and Ointments
Thicker relief for stronger symptoms and overnight protection.
Preservative-Free
Gentle single-use and multi-dose drops for frequent use.
Compare and Where to Buy
Weighing brands or deciding where to buy? These guides help you choose and shop with confidence.
Oasis vs iVIZIA
How two popular preservative-free drops fit different routines.
iVIZIA vs Optase Intense
Two preservative-free drops compared by active ingredient and fit.
Optase Hylo Night vs Refresh PM
Two preservative-free nighttime ointments compared by base, feel, and allergy notes.
All Product Comparisons
Every head-to-head comparison and buying guide in one place.
Where to Buy Eye Drops by Brand
Buying guides for the most popular dry eye drop brands, with the right formats for each and where to get them.
Oasis Tears
The preservative-free Oasis Tears range, including the Plus formula.
Systane
From everyday Ultra to Complete, Hydration PF, and nighttime.
Refresh
From Optive and Relieva to the preservative-free vials and PM.
Optase
Preservative-free drops, including Hylo, Intense, and MGD Advanced.
Blink
From Tears and Gel Tears to the preservative-free Boost.
GenTeal Tears
From the liquid drops to the severe gel and nighttime ointment.
Biotrue
Hydration Boost, a preservative-free, contact lens friendly drop.
Freshkote
Freshkote PF, made to support all three layers of the tear film.
Retaine
The CMC microemulsion drops and the PM nighttime ointment.
iVIZIA
Preservative-free drops and gel from Thea.
Dry Eye Rescue Tip
Count your daily drops
If you reach for them more than about four times a day, switch to a preservative-free formula. Frequent exposure to preservatives can irritate an already-stressed eye surface, and preservative-free vials remove that risk entirely.
Not Sure Which Drop Fits?
The right drop depends on your type of dry eye. Dry Eye Rescue works with a network of over 5,000 eye care professionals who can point you to the best fit. Use the Doctor Locator to find one near you.
Related guides
Drops are one piece of the picture. These guides cover the symptoms and causes they help with.
Symptom
Why Are My Eyes Watery But Dry?
Why dry eyes water, and what reflex tearing says about your tear film.
Read the guide
Symptom
Fluctuating or Blurred Vision
Why vision blurs and clears with blinking, and when to get it checked.
Read the guide
Cause
What Is MGD?
How the eyelid oil glands affect the tear film.
Read the guide
Guide
Your Complete Guide to Dry Eye
Causes, testing, treatment and everyday care.
Read the guideMost Common Questions
What is the difference between artificial tears, gels, and ointments?
Artificial tears are light and watery for daytime use, gels are thicker and last longer but can briefly blur vision, and ointments are thickest and best for overnight protection.
Do I need preservative-free drops?
If you use drops more than about four times a day or have sensitive eyes, yes. Preservatives can irritate the surface with frequent use, and preservative-free vials avoid that.
How often can I use lubricating drops?
Most lubricating drops can be used as needed, and preservative-free versions can be used frequently. Follow the label and ask your doctor if you are using them very often.
Can I use these drops with contact lenses?
Some drops are made for use with contacts and others are not, so check the label. When in doubt, ask your eye doctor which is safe with your lenses.
Will drops cure my dry eye?
Drops relieve symptoms and steady the tear film, but they do not fix the underlying cause. They work best alongside the right care for your type of dry eye.
Why do my eyes still feel dry even after using drops?
You may need a different type, such as preservative-free or a thicker gel, or your dryness may be evaporative and also need heat and lid care. An exam can clarify the cause.
Are redness-relief drops the same as lubricating drops?
No. Redness-relief drops whiten the eye but do not treat dryness, and overuse can backfire. For dry eye, choose a lubricating artificial tear instead.
Where can I get help choosing the right drops?
Use the Dry Eye Rescue Doctor Locator to find an eye care professional near you who can match a product to your type of dry eye.
Sources
- Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society. TFOS DEWS III Management and Therapy Report. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2025. ajo.com/article/S0002-9394(25)00274-0
This page is educational and does not replace medical advice from your eye care professional. Individual needs vary, and persistent or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a professional. If you wear contact lenses or have an eye condition, ask your doctor which drops are right for you. Product and brand names referenced on this site are trademarks of their respective owners.
