Best eye drops to treat dry eyes, according to an expert
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Tired, hot and sore: do these sound like your eyes after a long day in front of the computer?
Call it a symptom of 21st-century life, but cases of dry eyes are on the up, exacerbated by long spells in front of a screen, be it a computer, your handset or in front of the box all weekend.
Most people blink around 15 times a minute, but if you’re staring at one spot for a prolonged period, your blink rate grinds to a halt, leaving the ocular surface exposed. If this happens over a long time, it can lead to a condition called - you guessed it - dry eyes.
According to the NHS, you’re more likely to develop dry eyes if you’re a contact lens wearer, are exposed to air-con or central heating for extended periods, or spend your working day staring at a screen without giving your eyes a proper break - so don’t skip that tea break.
Boots Opticians warns that while complications from dry eye are rare, they could include conjunctivitis, keratitis or ulcers.
With contact lens-wearers among those most at-risk of dry eyes, we spoke to the experts to tell us more about the condition, and how to help soothe your eyes.
What are the main causes of dry eyes?
Tina Patel, Optician at Feel Good Contacts, explains that dry eyes are “usually a result of the eyes either not producing enough tears or tears evaporating too quickly. The condition can come and go, but for some, it is an ongoing problem.”
While some cases can be a one-off, the condition can become chronic thanks to “excessive screen use without regular breaks, hormonal changes and the natural ageing process,” Patel adds.
Then there are environmental factors like air conditioning, heating, and windy or dusty environments. If you’re on certain medications like antihistamines, antidepressants or other common medicines, dry eyes can be an unexpected consequence. Patel notes that pre-existing conditions like meibomian gland dysfunction, blepharitis or autoimmune responses like Sjögren’s syndrome can also be the cause of newly dry eyes.
What are the risks if left unchecked?
Things can go from a molehill to a mountain, warns Nimmi Mistry, a contact lens optician with Vision Direct. “If left unchecked, dryness can cause symptoms that vary from mild to severe. Mild symptoms include irritation, burning and foreign body sensation and watery eyes (as a result of the outer surface being so dry, tears cannot be retained on the surface). As the dryness progresses, blurred vision and discomfort present as symptoms. In severe cases, ulcerations and infections of the cornea may present, hindering sight.”
How can you solve dry eyes at home?
The good news is that, once you suspect you have dry eyes, quick action can reverse the condition. Both Patel and Mistry advocate using a warm compress up to twice a day to clear debris from the eyes and encourage the eye's oil-producing glands to open and lubricate the eye's delicate surface.
Duncan Reid, senior pharmacist and head of patient safety at Pharmacy2U adds: “When choosing eye drops, look for ingredients that restore moisture and protect the eye’s surface. Carbomer, hypromellose, and polyvinyl alcohol are commonly found in eye drops and help retain moisture. Hyaluronic acid is another excellent ingredient, known for its water-binding properties that provide long-lasting hydration.
“If you wear contact lenses, it's important to choose preservative-free eye drops or those specifically designed for contact lens users. Some drops contain ingredients that may build up on lenses or cause discomfort.
“In addition to using eye drops, simple lifestyle changes can help manage dry eye symptoms. For example, taking regular breaks from screens, using a humidifier in dry environments, and protecting your eyes from wind and pollution with sunglasses can all contribute to better eye comfort.”
Eye drops are an early course of treatment to soothe tired and dry eyes, with plenty of over-the-counter options ready to serve as a remedy.
Best eye drops for dry eyes at a glance
- Best for first-time dry eye or mild symptoms: Hycosan Extra Preservative Free Eye Drops - £22.98, Amazon
- Best for multi-level moisture: Systane Complete Lubricating Eye Drops for Dry Eyes - £19.95, Amazon
- Best for allergies: Optase Allergy Eye Drops - £12.95, Amazon
- Best for shift work: Blink Intensive Tears Eye Drops - £4.49, Amazon
- Best for people who don’t like touching their eyes: Peep Club Instant Relief Dry Eye Spray - £15, Amazon
- Best for post-surgery: The Eye Doctor Intensive Relief Eye Drops - £10.99, Amazon
- Best for older dry eye sufferers: Thealoz Duo Eye Drops - £11.47, Amazon
- Best for before bed: Hycosan Night Eye Ointment - £7.49, Amazon
- Best for optician recommended: Hycosan and Optase Dry Eye Kit - £27.50, Feel Good Contacts
- Best for subscription purchase: MTHK Eye Drops for Dry Eyes - £16.99, MTHK
But with so many on the shelf, it can be difficult to see the wood for the trees. That’s why we’ve collated a list of the best options available to give your peepers quick relief.
How I tested
I’ve been dealing with dry eyes since the 2020 pandemic forced me out of the office to work on my laptop.
An eye test revealed I had dry eyes so I’ve been more mindful about them ever since, trying to curb screen time (easier said than done) and trialling a raft of eye drops to see if they stopped my peepers from feeling tired and sore, which was becoming routine by the end of each WFH shift.
The heavier, gel-like ointments I saved for the end of the day and considered how comfortable my eyes felt in the morning. For the ad-hoc drops, I noted how quickly they worked to soothe soreness and how long they affected my vision before settling.
Shop the best eye drops for dry eyes below
Hycosan Extra Preservative Free Eye Drops
Best for: first-time dry eye or mild symptoms
When your eyes start to feel short of moisture, it’s time to reach for artificial tears to give them a hand. Hycosan, recommended by most opticians and vision experts, makes a range of eye drops to get your peepers back to their sparkling best.
The Extra formulation contains 0.2 per cent hyaluronic acid, which means it will cling to the ocular surface for longer, keeping them hydrated - ideal for severe cases of dry eyes.
Apply regularly for best results and keep at room temperature, binning the bottle after six months for hygiene safety. They can be used if you wear contact lenses too.
Systane Complete Lubricating Eye Drops for Dry Eyes 10ml
Best for: multi-level moisture
For deeply penetrating moisture, look to Systane, the maker of these lubricating eye drops that are made to ward off dry eyes.
The formula is made up of nano-sized droplets that, once dispersed, connect across the entire eye surface to provide near-instantaneous relief. As well as making your eyes comfortable again, they’re better hydrated and offer heightened protection against tear evaporation.
Shake before using and apply to the bottom or corners of eyes, blinking a few times to ensure it spreads right across the ocular surface.
Optase Allergy Eye Drops
Best for: allergies
Screens are only partially responsible for dry eyes; allergies and hayfever can be culprits too. Formulated for inflamed eyes triggered by high pollen, dust and other nasty stuff, Optase offers these eye drops.
The star ingredient is Ectoin, a molecule derived from microorganisms that flourish in dry and harsh environments. Packed with anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties, the drops offer relief to tired, gritty and hot eyes.
Each dose comes in its own sealed pipette, making them perfect to stuff into your bag for dog walks, days out and holidays abroad. The single dose also means you don’t have to worry about expiry if you only need them every so often, a format that other buyers also seem to love, going by the Amazon comment section.
They’re suitable for contact lens wearers as well as kids aged one year.
Blink Intensive Tears Eye Drops
Best for: shift work
Promising long-lasting relief for moderate to very dry-feeling eyes, Blink’s formula offers instant soothing results, leaving the ocular surface feeling fresher and brighter. It’s a good option for shift workers, such as front-line staff and 9-to-5ers like me who are parked in front of their screens all day. The bottle is small enough to keep with you on the go, topping up your eye’s natural hydration as and when needed.
Most promising review? “I have tried so many products as I have dry eyes and none seem to be right. I recently asked an ophthalmologist for a recommendation, and this is her suggestion. So far, I am so pleased with the results.”
Contact lense compatible. Find a milder version at Boots here (£3.99).
Peep Club Instant Relief Dry Eye Spray
Best for: people who don’t like touching their eyes
Not eye drops as such, but a spray to spritz onto tired, dry eyes to stop the urge to give them a rub.
Made by eyecare specialist Peep Club, the spray is part of a wider collection all focused on giving your eyes the care they deserve. While you're not distributing the liquid directly onto the ocular surface (good news for those who feel icked out by doing such things), you are increasing hydration around them with this formula, which contains wild-harvested sea buckthorn oil and sodium hyaluronate.
It's free from alcohol and preservatives, so you can use it even with contact lenses in or makeup on. I prefer applying to clean eyes to avoid the possibility of a gunky mess.
I use mine before using Peep Eye's Heated Eye Wand (£85) to help the device glide without pulling over the lids.
The Eye Doctor Intensive Relief Eye Drops
Best for: post-surgery
Laser eye surgery can leave you with sore, tired eyes after treatment. The Eye Doctor’s Intensive Relief Eye Drops can soothe severe cases, as well as persistent conditions. The solution contains 0.3 per cent sodium hyaluronate to flood the eyes with moisture, and can be used with hard or soft contact lenses to make them more comfortable to wear. Apply up to four times a day to help heal dry eyes.
Older users appear to love these drops, with one commenting that the dropper system is “suitable for my arthritic hands”.
Thealoz Duo Eye Drops
Best for: older dry eye sufferers
When your eyes feel so hot you just want to dunk them into a bowl of ice, try these eye drops first.
Ideal for users of all ages, but especially the over-50s who may suffer more from dry eyes, the trehalose, sodium hyaluronate and hyaluronic acid solution offers advanced soothing for sore peepers. The additive-free drops not only offer fast relief, but they help to heal dry eyes, so you may find you'll need the bottle less with continued use.
Some 70 per cent of 7217 Amazon users agreed, with one standout comment saying: “Absolutely thrilled with these drops. I was hesitant, as I have tried so many drops for my dry eyes, but nothing ever works. These literally eased my eyes instantly. I work full time looking at screens, and I am a gamer, so in my spare time I look at screens, and have to say these are the best drops I have ever tried. Fabulous.”
Not everyone has had a positive reaction, with one shopper noting an adverse reaction and that their eyes are so red they “look like I've been hanging around with Snoop Dogg all day!”
Hycosan Night Eye Ointment
Best for: before bed
If you find drops tricky to apply, this ointment could be the answer instead.
The slim 5g tube squeezes out the thick gel formula, which you should apply to your inner waterline, blinking rapidly to spread it all over your ocular surface. The preservative-free formula acts like a balm to soothe tired and dry eyes while you sleep and is enriched with vitamin A (reducing the risk of macular degeneration, vision loss and soothing inflammation) to give peepers an extra boost.
My vision was super blurry once I applied the ointment, so it’s definitely one to apply right before lights out. As for the results, my eyes felt like their old selves when I checked them in the morning. I’ve come to think of it as a Vaseline for the eyes - a big gun to call out for severe cases rather than a routine remedy.
Hycosan and Optase Dry Eye Kit
Best for: optician recommended
As recommended by Feel Good Contacts' Tina Patel, an optician with 26 years of experience in the optical industry, this all-in-one kit is a collab between two eyecare heavyweights.
The box includes a reusable eye mask, biodegradable wipes for keeping eyelids clean, and a bottle of Hycosan's Extra Eye Drops for fast-acting relief of dry eyes. Used in tandem, you should see and feel conditions improving from the very first application.
MTHK Eye Drops for Dry Eyes
Best for: subscription purchase
For those with blurred vision paired with dry, itchy or red eyes, this 10ml bottle could prove the ultimate tonic.
The preservative-free formula is reinforced with 0.3 per cent hyaluronic acid, famous for its hydrating properties, and can be paired with other drops, including the prescription variety.
Developed by Moorfields Eye Hospital specialists, expect eight hours of relief from the first administration of the artificial tears, even if you apply while wearing hard or soft contact lenses.
It has a six-month shelf life, and can be bought on subscription so you never need to be without.
Verdict
Offering quick relief, Hycosan is a good first call if you’re experiencing dry eyes. Graduate to stronger formulas if the issue persists or if eyes feel especially tired and sore.