Top 5 Over-the-Counter Eye Drops Recommended by a Board-Certified Ophthalmologist


Hi, I'm Dr. Michelle Lee, a board-certified ophthalmologist. Today, I'm going to share some tips for choosing the right eye drops and reveal my top five over-the-counter eye drops for dry eyes, allergies, and more. Stay until the end to find out my all-time favorite eye drop and why!

Shopping for eye drops can be overwhelming, so before we dive in, here are some pointers on what to look for:

  1. Avoid "Redness Relief" Drops: Stay away from any eye drops that claim to "get the red out." These often contain naphazoline or tetrahydrozoline, which are vasoconstrictors. These ingredients reduce the amount of oxygen that reaches your eyes, and as an ophthalmologist, I can't stress enough how much I dislike them. I even featured them in a video on things I would never do as an eye doctor.

  2. Choose Preservative-Free Drops: Whenever possible, opt for preservative-free eye drops. Preservatives in eye drops can cause ocular surface toxicity and inflammation, which can worsen dryness, especially with long-term use. If you're unsure which eye drops are best for your condition, consult with your eye doctor. Different formulations are designed for different eye conditions, so it's important to find the right one for you.

Now, let's talk about some of my favorite eye drops:

  1. Refresh Optive Mega-3 (Preservative-Free): This eye drop is a blend of flaxseed oil and castor oil, making it excellent for stabilizing the tear film in eyes that lack adequate oil. It's my go-to for patients with evaporative tear loss or those who can produce tears but not enough oil. While it is on the pricier side, many of my patients swear by its effectiveness.

  2. Refresh Digital (Preservative-Free): This is a newer eye drop designed for use with digital devices. It features proprietary HydroCell technology, which is glycerin-based to improve the tear film's salt concentration. It also contains castor oil, which soothes and stabilizes the tear film.

  3. Refresh Plus (Preservative-Free): This is the original preservative-free eye drop with a simple, effective formulation. It's great for all types of dry eyes and is especially suitable for sensitive eyes. It's also the most affordable preservative-free option, especially if you buy it in bulk at Costco, where each vial can cost less than 25 cents.

  4. Refresh Relieva (Preservative-Free): This eye drop comes in a preservative-free bottle, making it a great option for those who struggle with the small vials. It's also more cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Hopefully, one day, all preservative-free drops will come in bottles like this!

Let's switch gears and talk about allergy eye drops:

  1. Pataday: This is my top pick for allergy eye drops, and it's now available over the counter. What I love about Pataday is that it does two things: it acts as an antihistamine to stop itching immediately and as a mast cell stabilizer to prevent and control eye allergies.

  2. Alaway (Preservative-Free): This is a brand-new preservative-free allergy drop. Many patients with allergic conjunctivitis or eye allergies are sensitive to the preservatives in eye drops, so I'm hoping this will be a game-changer. If you've tried it or know someone who has, let me know in the comments below!

Lastly, let's talk about my personal favorite:

Lumify: Sometimes, you need a quick fix for red eyes—whether it's for a meeting, a photo shoot, or just to look presentable. Lumify has been my go-to in these situations. It's the only over-the-counter eye drop that combats redness using brimonidine, a medication traditionally used for glaucoma, known for its good safety profile. Lumify is much safer than other vasoconstricting drops on the market. Because it works so well and has helped me many times, it's my favorite eye drop.

Have you tried any of these eye drops? Let me know in the comments below! If you enjoyed this video, please like and subscribe, and I'll see you in the next one. Bye!

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