Eye drops are the most common way to treat dry eyes. The best eye drops are inexpensive, preservative-free and can be used while wearing contacts.
The less-than-\$25 BioTrue Hydration Boost Lubricant Eye Drops are also a smart choice, especially for soft contact lens wearers. The formula is pH-balanced, contains a protective antioxidant, and offers instant moisture.
2. BioTrue Hydration Boost Lubricant Eye Drops
Whether you wear contacts or not, these eye drops are great to keep around. They’re preservative-free, pH balanced to match your natural tears, and contain hyaluronan, an electrolyte, and antioxidants.
These eye drops can help hydrate the aqueous layer, which is a major cause of dry eyes. They’re also gentle enough to use multiple times a day. Plus, they come in single-dose bottles that are easy to keep with you.
3. Acuvue Ophthalmic Hydrating Eye Drops
For those with dry eyes and redness, these drops are a great option. The brimonidine in these drops helps reduce redness within one minute and the results last eight hours.
These eye drops are safe to use while wearing contact lenses, and they work for both soft and gas permeable contacts. They also provide hydration for your eyes and help keep your contacts clean.
These drops are a little different than others in this list. They contain a small amount of mineral oil, which can cause discomfort for some people.
4. Ophthalmic Eye Drops with Hyaluronic Acid
Suitable for contact lens wearers, this product helps relieve the most common symptoms of dry eye including redness, itching, watering, and burning. It contains glycerin and sodium hyaluronic acid, both of which are known for their ability to keep moisture on the surface of your eyes.
Plus, it comes in single-use vials that make it easy to stash in your purse or backpack, says Dr. Hilal-Campo. And for less than \$30, it’s an affordable way to find relief.
5. Eyebright Homeopathic Eye Drops
For those who suffer from mild to moderate dry eye symptoms, these sterile drops provide relief without the use of any chemical vasoconstrictors. They also help reduce redness, grittiness, and burning, and are safe for contact lens wearers.
Dr. Hilal-Campo says opting for preservative-free drops is a good idea, and this formula combines carboxymethylcellulose with glycerin and sodium hyaluronate. They’re “long-lasting and soothing,” she says. Size: 0.33 fl oz.
6. Hypromellose Eye Drops
Eye drops lubricate the eyes to help with symptoms like itching, redness, fluctuation of vision and feeling like there’s a foreign particle in the eye. These hydrating picks are designed to be gentle on sensitive eyes, and come in convenient single-use vials for easy portability.
The SYSTANE gel drops are the best option for severe dry eyes since they have a thicker consistency to keep them moist. They also offer long-lasting relief and come with a reusable dispenser for more savings down the line.
7. Eucerin Eye Relief Eye Drops
These over-the-counter drops deliver a hydrating boost to the eyes. They also help relieve dry eye symptoms like itching, burning, watering, or light sensitivity. A liquid gel, this product is best for daytime use and can even be used with contact lenses. A thicker ointment version that’s designed for bedtime can be applied to the eyes at night to help ease dryness while you sleep.
This preservative-free product instantly moisturizes and lubricates dry eyes. It also helps combat that sandpapery sensation and can even help reduce blurry vision.
8. Biotrue Hydrating Eye Drops with Glycerin
For mild dry eye symptoms, these hydrating drops from a brand those who wear contact lenses swear by are a smart choice. This formula is preservative-free, and has a lipid-boosting effect that can help improve the thickness of your ocular surface lipid layer to reduce itching and irritation.
The drops also contain glycerin, which helps to hydrate the eyes. They’re available as a multi-dose bottle or as single-use vials, and they’re less than \$25.
9. Acuvue Ultra Moisture Eye Drops
If you’re looking for a pair of contact lens drops that are effective, simple, and affordable, these might be the ones for you. They can help reduce dryness and itchiness while wearing your lenses.
These daily disposable contacts can correct myopia (short-sightedness) or hyperopia (far-sightedness). They’re breathable and contain LACREON, which mimics the body’s natural tears to increase hydration. They also come with visibility tints and inside-out indicators for easy handling, insertion, and removal.
