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Comparisons / Gels and Ointments
Two preservative-free nighttime eye ointments that coat the eye with a protective film while you sleep. They do the same basic job, but their formulas differ in ways that can matter, including how they feel and what they contain. Here is a plain, balanced comparison.
Key takeaways
Quick answer
Both are bedtime ointments that coat the eye with a long-lasting protective film, so they relieve overnight dryness better than drops do. Refresh PM is a petrolatum and mineral oil blend with a relatively high mineral oil content, which many people find lighter. Optase Hylo Night is a thicker, higher-petrolatum ointment that also includes Vitamin A and is made to last around six hours. Both contain lanolin, and Hylo Night may contain traces of peanut oil, so allergies matter here. Use either at bedtime, since ointments blur vision.
How nighttime ointments work
Eye ointments are thicker than drops. They stay on the surface of the eye far longer, which is exactly what you want overnight, when you are not blinking and not reaching for drops. That staying power is also why they blur vision, so they are made for bedtime rather than daytime use. Both Hylo Night and Refresh PM are preservative-free, which makes them gentler for regular nightly use.
Lubricant ointments are recommended for nighttime use in dry eye care because they last longer than drops and protect the surface during sleep, though their thickness blurs vision and makes them best suited to bedtime. Source: TFOS DEWS II Management and Therapy Report (2017). Full citation at the end of this page.
The details below come from each product's label.
These are organized by fit, not ranked. Allergies and feel preference matter most here, so read the ingredient notes below and ask your eye doctor if you are unsure.
The two products this comparison covers. Descriptions are the manufacturer's own.
About the ProductOptase Hylo Night is a preservative free eye ointment supplied in a 5...
About the ProductRefresh P.M. is a preservative free lubricant eye ointment supplied in a sterile...
The full Optase range, including Intense drops and Hylo Night.
The full Refresh range of drops, gels and the PM ointment.
Every nighttime gel and ointment we carry, in one place.
Before you choose
Ointment ingredients are where these two need a closer look. Both Optase Hylo Night and Refresh PM contain lanolin, so neither is a good choice if you have a wool or lanolin allergy. If that applies to you, ask your eye doctor about a lanolin-free nighttime ointment instead. Optase Hylo Night also contains light liquid paraffin that may contain peanut oil, which is worth knowing if you have a peanut allergy. When an allergy is a concern, confirm the current ingredient list on the carton and check with your doctor before use.
Dry Eye Rescue Tip
Apply a small strip, about a quarter inch, inside the lower lid right before bed, then close your eyes. Expect some blur as it spreads, which is normal and clears by morning. If your eyes feel worst when you wake up, a nighttime ointment is often the missing piece, but persistent morning dryness is also a good reason to have your lid closure checked by an eye care professional.
Not sure which ointment suits your eyes, or worried about an ingredient? Dry Eye Rescue works with a network of over 5,000 eye care professionals. Use the Doctor Locator to find a specialist near you.
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Read the guideThe base. Refresh PM is a petrolatum and mineral oil blend with a relatively high mineral oil content, which many find lighter. Optase Hylo Night is a higher-petrolatum ointment that also contains Vitamin A and is made to last about six hours.
Yes. Refresh PM lists lanolin alcohols, and Optase Hylo Night contains lanolin. Neither is a good choice if you have a wool or lanolin allergy.
Optase Hylo Night contains retinol palmitate, a form of Vitamin A. Refresh PM does not.
Yes, briefly. Ointments are thick and coat the eye, so vision blurs as they spread. That is why both are made for bedtime and not daytime use.
Optase Hylo Night is the higher-petrolatum formula and is made to last about six hours. Both are designed to protect the eye through the night.
Both are preservative-free and intended for nightly bedtime use. Follow the label, and stop and see a doctor if you have eye pain, vision changes, or symptoms that last more than 72 hours.
It can. Optase Hylo Night's light liquid paraffin may contain peanut oil. If you have a peanut allergy, check the current carton and ask your doctor before using it.
Ointments are applied at bedtime, when lenses should be out. Remove your lenses first, and ask your eye doctor about timing if you wear lenses overnight for any reason.
An eye care professional can weigh your symptoms, allergies, and feel preference. Use the Dry Eye Rescue Doctor Locator to find one near you.
Sources
This page is educational and does not replace medical advice from your eye care professional. Ingredient details reflect each product's label at the time of writing and can change, so always read the current carton, especially if you have an allergy. OPTASE and HYLO are trademarks of Scope. Refresh is a trademark of AbbVie. Product and brand names referenced on this site are trademarks of their respective owners. Dry Eye Rescue carries both brands. Talk with your doctor before changing your dry eye routine.
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