3 Red Flags When Buying Dry Eye Drops
Walk down the eye-care aisle and you’ll see an entire wall of “dry eye relief” products promising soothing comfort in minutes. And sure, some are helpful. But eye doctors also see the other side of the story: people who’ve been using the wrong drops for weeks (or months), wondering why their eyes feel worse.
If you use over-the-counter drops for dryness, here are three common red flags that should make you pause - because not all drops are created equal.
Red Flag #1: The Drop Brags “Get the Red Out”
If the bottle is marketed primarily for redness relief, it’s often a vasoconstrictor - a medication that temporarily shrinks blood vessels so your eyes look whiter. That might sound great… until you realize it doesn’t actually treat dryness.
Even worse, frequent use can cause rebound redness (your eyes look even redder once it wears off) and more irritation over time.
Quick rule of thumb:
If your eyes look dramatically better in five minutes, be a little suspicious. Whiter doesn’t always mean healthier.
Red Flag #2: You’re Using Drops More Than 4 Times a Day (And They Aren’t Preservative-Free)
Most standard over-the-counter drops contain preservatives - one common example is BAK. Preservatives can be perfectly fine occasionally, especially if you’re not sensitive to them.
But if you’re using drops constantly - more than four times per day - those preservatives can start irritating the eye’s surface, which can make dry eye feel worse instead of better.
What to do instead:
If you need drops frequently, look specifically for preservative-free artificial tears (often packaged in single-use vials, but some bottles are designed to stay preservative-free too).
Red Flag #3: They Burn Every Single Time
A mild sting once in a while? That can happen.
But consistent burning every time you use a drop is a sign something isn’t right. It can mean:
- the drop isn’t compatible with your tear film
- the eye’s surface is more inflamed than you realize
- you may be dealing with a bigger dry eye issue than “just dryness”
And while prescription drops used to treat medical conditions may have different “rules,” if you’re using OTC drops for dryness and they burn every time, it’s worth reconsidering what you’re using - and why.
Dry Eye Isn’t Just “Add More Water”
This is the part most people miss: dry eye is often not simply a lack of tears.
It can be driven by things like:
- inflammation
- oil gland dysfunction (meibomian gland issues)
- environmental stress (screens, dry air, fans, allergies, contacts, etc.)
So if you’re using drops constantly and still uncomfortable, that’s your cue: it may be time for a proper evaluation. The right treatment might be different drops, a different routine, or addressing the underlying cause - not just more artificial tears.
The Takeaway
If your “dry eye drops” are:
- mainly for redness relief,
- used more than four times daily without being preservative-free, or
- burning every single time -
…don’t ignore it. Those are common signs you may be using the wrong product, or that your dry eye needs more targeted care.
Because when it comes to your vision and comfort: not all eye drops are created equal.
If you’re ready to support your eyes from the inside out, browse the recipes on Cook With Doc today - simple, delicious meals built around nutrients your eyes love, and designed to help you stay consistent with smart, vision-friendly habits.
#DryEyeRelief #EyeHealthTips #OphthalmologistAdvice
