Lubricating eye drops, also called artificial tears, provide moisture and relief for dry eyes due to temporary causes, like being tired or being in a dry climate.
Artificial tears are eye drops used to lubricate dry eyes and help keep moisture on the outer surface of your eyes. Dry eyes can result from: Aging.
Generic Name: artificial tears(hypromellose)
This medication is used to relieve dry, irritated eyes. Common causes for dry eyes include wind, sun, heating/air conditioning, computer use/reading, and certain medications.
Despite their usefulness, eye drops aren't meant for long-term, regular use. If used too often, they could cause a variety of issues, including worsening pre-existing dry eye.
Artificial tears are available under the following different brand names: Tears Naturale PM, Isopto Tears, Bion Tears, Tears Naturale Forte, Tears Naturale Free Lubricant, Tears Naturale II Polyquad, Tears Plus, Lacril, Liquifilm Tears, LubriTears, Minims Artificial Tears, Celluvisc, Gel Tears, Bausch & Lomb Advanced ...
Usually, drops may be used as often as needed. Ointments are usually used 1 to 2 times daily as needed. If using an ointment once a day, it may be best to use it at bedtime. To apply eye ointment/drops/gels: Wash hands first.
Generally, eye drops contain preservatives to help keep them safe to use after opening the bottle. However, you should dispose of any unused eye drops 30 days after you first opened the bottle.
If you use artificial tears that contain preservatives, you should limit their use to four to six times per day. If you need to use the products more often than that, you should use products that don't contain preservatives.
Systane is the #1 global consumer brand of artificial tears. Systane Complete provides symptom relief for people who suffer from evaporative dry eye, aqueous tear-deficient dry eye or mixed dry eye.
Along with carboxymethylcellulose, another common demulcent is hydroxymethylcellulose. Some of these types of demulcents can be found in Refresh Tears (Allergan), TheraTears (Akorn) and Retaine (OcuSoft), Dr. Harthan says. Propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol and glycerin are other common demulcents.
In general, for most artificial tears, you do not want to use them more than 4 times a day. The reason is because most types of artificial tears contain preservatives. The current literature suggests that if you use them more than 4 times per day, you can actually “overload” your eyes with preservative.
When overusing eye drops you can run the risk of: Washing away your natural tears. Artificial tears feel great as they lubricate your eyes and help with insufficient tear production. But overuse can literally wash away the natural moisturizers and your natural tears that protect your eyes.
Examples of artificial tears containing PEG are Blink Tears (Abbott), Blink Gel Tears (Abbott), Systane gel (Alcon), Systane preservative free (Alcon), and Soothe (B+L). Propylene glycol also forms a protective layer over mucous membranes to relieve inflammation and/or irritation.
After the drop goes in, keep your eye closed for about thirty seconds to help it absorb properly. If you blink excessively, the drop will not get absorbed. If you place your index finger along the inner corner of your eye after putting the drops in, this closes off the tear duct and keeps the drop in the eye longer.
Don't Blink
After applying eyedrops, many people believe they should blink a lot to spread the drops around the eye. But this is ineffective. Blinking may cause some of the drop to leak out, hindering optimal absorption.
Virgin coconut oil is great for those with dry eyes, as it creates a protective layer over the tear film layers, resulting in reduced evaporation. Furthermore, coconut oil has antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, anti-parasitic, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.
It's best to avoid decongestant eye drops such as Visine, Naphcon, Opcon, or Clear Eyes when treating dry eyes. You can recognize these drops because they are typically advertised as a relief for red eyes or allergies.
Using contaminated artificial tears increases risk of eye infections that could result in blindness or death. Patients who have signs or symptoms of an eye infection should talk to their health care provider or seek medical care immediately.
How many times a day can I use my SYSTANE® BALANCE? You can use it as needed. We recommend 1-2 drops per eye per use.
Dry eye symptoms include a dry, gritty or burning sensation in the eyes, redness, watery or teary eyes and mucus that make the eyes feel "glued shut" after sleeping. Many people also report the feeling of something in the eye or eyestrain. Itching and light sensitivity may also occur.
Systane® is the #1 Dry Eye brand in Australia and New Zealand. The Systane® family of eye drops has a unique, delivery system containing HP-Guar and borate to help provide Dry Eye relief. ALWAYS READ THE LABEL AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE.