10 Best Eye Drops 2025 in the United States

With a good share of people working at a computer screen for a good part of the day, many people complain of eye strain. They could be suffering from tired eyes, or a burning or itching sensation. And the symptoms of computer eyestrain get even worse if someone uses contact lenses. It's no wonder why eye drops are in high demand. Also, dry weather or allergies can trigger eye irritation. If that's the case, there are a wide range of eye drops that can lubricate and hydrate strained eyes. Here is a guide to the best eye drops on the market.

• Lubricating drops: These are recommended for people with dry eyes. Dry eyes can result from the windy and dry weather. Also, older people tend to produce fewer tears. Refresh Celluvisc is a viscous eye gel that gives extra moisturizing relief, providing the eyes with “artificial tears”.

• Hydrating drops: These are called “rinse drops”. They can also be used to rinse debris and dust out of the eyes.

• Against eyestrain: There are drops that relax eye muscles that have been strained from prolonged use. The drops will relieve symptoms such as fatigue, pain, a burning sensation, or blurred or double vision.

• Against allergies: If a person has itchy, watery eyes due to allergies, the recommended drops will have an antihistamine, against allergies. But that will frequently require a prescription.

• Prescription drops: There are also eye drops for medicinal purposes, which are not sold over the counter: anesthetic drops, for dilating pupils during eye examinations, antiviral drops, drops for glaucoma (to decrease excess pressure in the eye), and steroid or antibiotic drops.

Based on all the consumers' reviews we've scanned, these are the top things they mentioned about their new stuff:

• Single-use capsules: Instead of eye drops in a bottle, Refresh offers eye drops in single use capsules in their Optive Lubricant Eye Drops. Some prefer this, because they can dispose of the package after it has been opened. If you want to continue using the drops in one capsule, be sure to use it within 72 hours of opening the package. (The drops have no preservatives, out of concern that they could cause an allergic reaction.)

• Laser surgery patients: Patients who have undergone laser surgery to correct their vision (called laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis, or LASIK for short) notice that they have a decrease in tear production during the healing process. Eye drops are highly recommended during the recuperation period, to keep the eyes moist.

• Effect of using a gel: Eye drops that come in the form of a gel (they can contain mineral oil or Vaseline) have the effect of making your vision blurry at first. But that goes away after a few minutes.

• Not just to relieve eye strain: Some people with chronic dry eyes can actually experience abrasions to the cornea (the thin layer covering the lens of the eye). Patients suffering from this say that they feel as if someone threw sand in their eyes. A nighttime ointment or type of eye drops is recommended for such people. The Bausch and Lomb Soothe Xtra Hydration Eye Drops are reputed to give relief in such cases.

• How to administer eye drops: You should apply eye drops by tilting your head back, either while sitting or standing. Pull down your lower eyelid with the little finger of the hand holding the dropper, and administer the drops by squeezing on the bottle with the thumb and forefinger.

• Reactions: Be aware of any adverse side effects when using eye drops. If your condition worsens, or if you feel a stinging, burning or itching sensation, it could be an allergy to the eye drops themselves. Pay attention to any side effects associated with the eye drops that are listed on the package.

• Maintain sterility: Do not let the tip of the eye drop container touch any foreign surface, so as to avoid contamination. Also, do not let the dropper touch your eye.

• Don't overuse eye drops: If you see that over-the-counter drops are not effective, and you still have dry eyes, consult a doctor. Eye drops used over a long period of time cause a dependence on them, and can actually make the condition worse!

Refresh—is a brand of eye-care products, manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Allergan. Their international headquarters is in Dublin, Ireland. Their brand of eye drops, Refresh, is principally for users of contact lenses, even though it grants relief for anyone with eye discomfort.

Bausch and Lomb—was founded in 1853 in Rochester, New York. John Jacob Bausch opened an optical good store, and borrowed money from Henry Lomb to continue operations. As their company grew, they manufactured rubber eyeglass frames, microscopes, binoculars, and camera parts. They introduced soft contact lenses, and are the largest providers fo eye-care products.