What Eye Drops are Available Over the Counter?
In any pharmacy or grocery store, there is a wide assortment of eye drops and solutions that are available to purchase over the counter and without a prescription. Understanding what the difference between each of these drops and how they should be used is important before buying and using eye drops over the counter.
Types of Eye Drops Available OTC
While most medication eye drops such as steroid eye drops, antibiotic eye drops, and glaucoma eye drops are only available with a prescription from a doctor, there are others which can be purchased without a prescription.
These over-the-counter eye drops include lubricating eye drops, redness relief eye drops, allergy eye drops, and contact lens eye drops and solutions.
These eye drops do not require any prescription and are not regulated in the same way as other medications.
Lubricating Eye Drops
Lubricating eye drops, also known as artificial tears, are used to improve the comfort of the eyes and reduce irritation from dryness.
Many eye doctors will recommend using artificial tears as a treatment for dry eye syndrome.
These eye drops have an active ingredient that is designed to improve the tear film on the front of the eyes.
There are many types of lubricating eye drops which can be designed for use at night, with contact lenses, or to help improve the oil component of the tear film.
Several brands make lubricating eye drops and are readily available. Brands include Systane, Refresh, Blink, TheraTears, and BioTrue.
Many lubricating eye drops contain a preservative to allow a bottle to remain usable for multiple days, but other lubricating eye drops are preservative free and sold in individual vials for single uses.
Redness Relief Drops
There are many eye drops available over the counter that are designed to reduce redness of the eyes.
These drops are not a cure for the cause of the redness but will cause the blood vessels in the white of the eye to constrict and result in a less bloodshot eye.
Drops such as Visine, Clear Eyes, and Lumify are all marketed as redness relief drops.
Allergy Eye Drops
Eye drops for allergies are called antihistamine drops. These eye drops are designed to reduce the symptoms experienced by those with eye allergies.
Commonly, these symptoms include itchy eyes or watery eyes. An antihistamine medication will reduce the effects of allergic reactions in the eyes.
These eye drops are most effective when used daily during the allergy season.
Brands that make allergy eye drops include Pataday, Alaway, Zaditor, and Lastacaft.
Contact Lens Eye Drops and Solutions
There are many eye drops marketed as re-wetting eye drops for contact lenses. Similar to lubricating eye drops, these re-wetting eye drops are designed to improve comfort with contact lenses.
By providing a good, even moist surface for the contact lens, these drops will reduce the feeling of something being in the eye while wearing contact lenses.
Additionally, there are large bottles of multipurpose solution which are designed to clean and store contact lenses.
Brands of contact lens solutions include Opti-Free, BioTru, ReNu, and ClearCare.
Choosing an OTC Drop
If any eye problems are occurring, it is worth consulting with your eye doctor before self-treating with over-the-counter products.
If you have been instructed to use an over-the-counter product, always use it as directed by the manufacturer and your doctor.
Our eye doctors at GHEye excel in prescription of glasses, contact lenses and the diagnosis of a variety of eye diseases. Call our optometrists at (571) 445-3692 to schedule your appointment today if you think you may need prescription eye drops or have any questions on OTC eye drops. Our eye doctors, Dr. Ally Stoeger and Dr. Jennifer Sun provide the highest quality optometry services and eye exams in the Gainesville VA and Haymarket VA areas.
In any pharmacy or grocery store, there is a wide assortment of eye drops and solutions that are available to purchase over the counter and without a prescription. Understanding what the difference between each of these drops and how they should be used is important before buying and using eye drops over the counter.
Types of Eye Drops Available OTC
While most medication eye drops such as steroid eye drops, antibiotic eye drops, and glaucoma eye drops are only available with a prescription from a doctor, there are others which can be purchased without a prescription.
These over-the-counter eye drops include lubricating eye drops, redness relief eye drops, allergy eye drops, and contact lens eye drops and solutions.
These eye drops do not require any prescription and are not regulated in the same way as other medications.
Lubricating Eye Drops
Lubricating eye drops, also known as artificial tears, are used to improve the comfort of the eyes and reduce irritation from dryness.
Many eye doctors will recommend using artificial tears as a treatment for dry eye syndrome.
These eye drops have an active ingredient that is designed to improve the tear film on the front of the eyes.
There are many types of lubricating eye drops which can be designed for use at night, with contact lenses, or to help improve the oil component of the tear film.
Several brands make lubricating eye drops and are readily available. Brands include Systane, Refresh, Blink, TheraTears, and BioTrue.
Many lubricating eye drops contain a preservative to allow a bottle to remain usable for multiple days, but other lubricating eye drops are preservative free and sold in individual vials for single uses.
Redness Relief Drops
There are many eye drops available over the counter that are designed to reduce redness of the eyes.
These drops are not a cure for the cause of the redness but will cause the blood vessels in the white of the eye to constrict and result in a less bloodshot eye.
Drops such as Visine, Clear Eyes, and Lumify are all marketed as redness relief drops.
Allergy Eye Drops
Eye drops for allergies are called antihistamine drops. These eye drops are designed to reduce the symptoms experienced by those with eye allergies.
Commonly, these symptoms include itchy eyes or watery eyes. An antihistamine medication will reduce the effects of allergic reactions in the eyes.
These eye drops are most effective when used daily during the allergy season.
Brands that make allergy eye drops include Pataday, Alaway, Zaditor, and Lastacaft.
Contact Lens Eye Drops and Solutions
There are many eye drops marketed as re-wetting eye drops for contact lenses. Similar to lubricating eye drops, these re-wetting eye drops are designed to improve comfort with contact lenses.
By providing a good, even moist surface for the contact lens, these drops will reduce the feeling of something being in the eye while wearing contact lenses.
Additionally, there are large bottles of multipurpose solution which are designed to clean and store contact lenses.
Brands of contact lens solutions include Opti-Free, BioTru, ReNu, and ClearCare.
Choosing an OTC Drop
If any eye problems are occurring, it is worth consulting with your eye doctor before self-treating with over-the-counter products.
If you have been instructed to use an over-the-counter product, always use it as directed by the manufacturer and your doctor.