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Eye drops (dry eye)
Refresh Plus preservative-free lubricant eye drops
Carboxymethylcellulose 0.5% in a saline-like base, in sterile single-use vials. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends preservative-free drops if you use them four or more times a day.
Worth knowing
- Single-use vials cost more per drop than a bottle. US preservative-free multi-dose bottles exist but are less common.
Ingredients
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 0.5% (active), Calcium chloride dihydrate, Magnesium chloride hexahydrate, Potassium chloride, Purified water, Sodium chloride, Sodium lactate.
Persistent dry or sore eyes need an optometrist, not just drops.
What we ruled out
Drops preserved with benzalkonium chloride (BAK) for daily use. Linked to toxicity in corneal and conjunctival cells with frequent or chronic use. Mayo Clinic suggests preservative-free if you use drops more than four times a day.
'Redness relief' or whitening drops with a decongestant (e.g. naphazoline, tetrahydrozoline). They shrink blood vessels and don't treat dryness. Regular use can cause rebound redness.
Sources
- TFOS DEWS II Management and Therapy Report, The Ocular Surface 15(3):575-628 (2017)
- What are HYLO eye drops? An optometrist's guide, FYidoctors
- Will artificial tears worsen dry eye symptoms if used too often?, American Academy of Ophthalmology (2023)
- Redness-relieving eye drops, American Academy of Ophthalmology (2023)