All / Bathroom / Eye drops (dry eye)
Eye drops (dry eye)
Hylo-Tear
Preservative-free lubricating drops in a multi-dose bottle that stays sterile for 6 months after opening. Sodium hyaluronate is one of the best-studied tear substitutes.
Worth knowing
- Hylo-Forte (0.2%) is the thicker version for more severe dryness.
- Sold as Hylo in some countries.
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.
Also good
Thealoz Duo. Preservative-free trehalose plus hyaluronate. A good alternative if Hylo doesn't suit you.
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)