
Eye drops can relieve dry or itchy red eyes, which irritation, allergies, dryness, or infection can cause. The right eye drops will soothe the annoying scratchy feeling of dry red eyes that may be felt every time you blink (13,440 to 16,320 times a day, to be precise). From allergies to fast relief and natural options, here are the best eye drops for all types of red eye.
Best Eye Drops for Red Eyes
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Best Overall for Allergies: Zaditor Antihistamine Eye Drops
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Best for Dry Eyes: Blink Tears
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Best for Fast Relief:VISINE® Red Eye Comfort Eye Drops
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Best Natural Option: Eyeganics Organic Tears
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Best for Long-Term Use: Restasis
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Best for Redness from Fatigue:Rohto® Digi Eye® Digital Eye Strain Eye Drops
Best Overall for Allergies:Zaditor Antihistamine Eye Drops
Whether it’s your neighbor’s cat or hay fever, dry or itchy eyes are a common symptom of an allergic reaction. Antihistamines can be taken orally to combat the effects of histamine, the chemical that can cause these allergic reactions, but they are also available in eye drop form, like this offering from Zaditor.
The active ingredient is ketotifen, which is also used for asthma, and the inactive ingredients are benzalkonium chloride, glycerol, purified water, sodium hydroxide, or hydrochloric Acid.
Best for Dry Eyes:Blink Tears
Many red eye drops are marketed as “tears” to give the user a feeling of comfort provided by the lubrication of artificial tears entering the eyes. To restore the relief of a good blink, Blink Tears contain polyethylene glycol to lubricate eyes.
The inactive ingredients are boric acid, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, purified water, sodium borate, sodium chloride, and sodium hyaluronate.
Best for Fast Relief:VISINE® Red Eye Comfort Eye Drops
Have you ever wanted your red eyes to be gone in 60 seconds? For fast relief, you can’t beat VISINE® Red Eye Comfort Eye Drops. The active ingredient in these eye drops is the red eye reliever tetrahydrozoline.
They also contain ascorbic acid, boric acid, dextrose, glycerin, glycine, magnesium chloride, polyquaternium-42, potassium chloride, purified water, sodium borate, sodium citrate, sodium lactate, and sodium phosphate dibasic.
Best Natural Option:Eyeganics Organic Tears
If you want more natural relief from dry or red eyes, check out Eyeganics Organic Tears. Its USDA-certified organic formulation contains cleanly sourced, organic, and plant-based ingredients.
Unlike the lengthy ingredient lists of the other eye drop brands, this relative newcomer only contains organic glycerin, sodium chloride, and water.
Best for Long-Term Use:Restasis
Sometimes, over-the-counter eye drops don’t seem to cut it. People who need prescription eye drops may want to try Restasis, which is designed to encourage tear production.
Designed to help increase tear production, these eye drops contain the active ingredient cyclosporine, alongside glycerin, castor oil, polysorbate 80, carbomer copolymer type A, purified water, and sodium hydroxide.
Best for Redness from Fatigue:Rohto® Digi Eye® Digital Eye Strain Eye Drops
Too much screen time can cause red eyes. Rohto® Digi Eye® Digital Eye Strain Eye Drops aim to combat this common affliction with vitamin B12 (which is why they are pink), hypromellose, and tetrahydrozoline HCl.
The inactive ingredients found in these eye drops are benzalkonium chloride, boric acid, chlorobutanol, cyanocobalamin, edetate disodium, menthol, polysorbate 80, potassium aspartate, purified water, pyridoxine hydrochloride, and sodium borate.
Types of Eye Drops for Red Eyes
Perusing row after row of eye drops can be overwhelming, especially when you’re already blinking through dry or red eyes. Here’s a breakdown of the different types of eye drops for red eyes:
Artificial Tears
Artificial tears add lubrication or moisture to the eyes to relieve red eyes. Blink Tears and Refresh Tears are two of the biggest brands that offer an artificial tear product.
Antihistamine Drops
Like antihistamine tablets, antihistamine eye drops contain active ingredients that combat the release of histamine in the body from an allergic reaction. Zaditor and Alaway are two of the biggest antihistamine drops brands on the market.
Decongestant Drops
Containing active ingredients that are designed to constrict blood vessels around the eyes that leads to a reduction in redness, decongestant drops contain vasoconstrictors. Two of the name brands for this type of eye drops are Visine and Clear Eyes.
Prescription Drops
When over-the-counter drops don’t cut it, you can get a prescription from your eye doctor for something to combat chronic red eye. This type of eye drop is also commonly prescribed for infections or inflammation. Two of the most common brands out there are Lotemax and Restasis, which are steroid-based.
Combination Drops
Combining antihistamine and decongestant active ingredients, combination drops have the best of both worlds. The top drops in this category are Pataday and Similasan.
How to Choose the Best Eye Drops for Your Red Eyes
It’s not always obvious which eye drop will work best for you. Follow these steps to select the right eye drops for your needs:
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Consider the Cause: First, identify why the redness has occurred. Is it an allergic reaction? Or could it be from other factors? Once you decide this, you can decide whether you need antihistamine drops.
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Short-Term vs. Long-Term Use: If you need a quick fix for red eyes that doesn’t present itself very often, you can use a cheaper brand. However, if you notice red eyes are a common problem, it might be worth investing in a higher-end product for long-term use. Eye doctors most commonly recommend preservative-free.
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Side Effects to Watch Out For:Despite being designed to combat redness and dryness, some products (especially decongestant eye drops) may cause rebound redness, especially when you stop using them, which can cause more severe dryness than before. Another common side effect is blurred vision, which should stop after a few blinks.
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Natural or Prescription Options: Whether or not to use prescription eye drops depends on the severity of the issues. While prescription formulas are often of higher strength and designed to combat severe symptoms, they can have a more significant risk of side effects and a higher price tag due to the ingredients. On the other hand, over-the-counter eye drops are great for quick relief and are cheaper, but they may cause more acute rebound redness after use.
Tips for Using Eye Drops Effectively
When you’ve found the right eye drops for your needs, it’s essential to use them correctly to avoid eye infections. For proper application, always wash your hands first, shake the bottle if it says to the side, and warm the bottle by holding it in your hand so it’s not such a shock when the drops hit your eye.
Rather than blinking rapidly, try keeping your eye closed for around a minute so the eye drop can spread across the eye. Try to avoid touching the tip of the dropper to prevent contamination.
Store them in a cool, dry place at room temperature between uses. While it’s tempting to use drops regularly, don’t exceed the recommended daily amounts on the side of the bottle. Sticking to the recommended daily amount will also help lower the chance of rebound redness when you stop using them.
Conclusion
The best eye drops can feel like absolute lifesavers when you have red or dry eyes. It’s important to choose the right eye drops for your individual needs. If you’re wondering which eye drops will be the right fit, arrange a visit to your doctor or eye doctor for more advice, especially if you are suffering from other symptoms.
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