Soothe Dry, Irritated Eyes With the 12 Best Eye Drops, According to an Eye Doctor (2025)

Our Top Picks

Key Ingredients: Polyethylene glycol 400, propylene glycol | Concerns: Dryness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.34 oz

Per the name, these eye drops have a thicker texture—more gel-like than liquid—making them a great option if you want to ensure long-lasting moisture. How does this formula work? Due to the thicker nature of the formula, the drops create a protective shield over the eyes, forming a barrier that protects against irritating dry air and debris. The drops are great to use pre-bedtime to keep your eyes lubricated overnight.

Key Ingredients: Carboxymethylcellulose sodium | Concerns: Dryness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.5 oz

Super hydrating and gentle (they don’t even sting when you first apply them), these check all of the basic moisturizing eye drop boxes. They work quickly (how long it takes might vary depending on the user) and ring in at a very wallet-friendly price if you want to stock up on multiple bottles to keep on hand at all times. A little goes a long way, so all you'll need is a drop or two as needed.

Key Ingredients: Carboxymethylcellulose, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate | Concerns: Dryness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.33 oz

Dr. Hilal-Campo says opting for preservative-free formulas is best, and this one is one of her favorites. She says it’s a great, all-around dry eye relief product, as it contains a mix of commonly used eye drop ingredients and sodium hyaluronate, making it very soothing. FYI, double-check to ensure you’re getting the preservative-free version, as there’s also a variant containing preservatives. The only downside of this product is that the dropper can be a bit finicky from time to time, so you may have to put in some elbow grease.

Key Ingredients: Polyethylene glycol, glycerin | Concerns: Dryness, burning, itching | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.5 oz

This brand may be best known for drops that combat redness, but they also make this straightforward option to help add much-needed moisture to dry eyes. The formula touts 10 ingredients found in your tears so that they work as such, helping to combat not only that dry, sandpapery feeling but also itching and burning. Keep in mind that these shouldn't be used when you're wearing contact lenses.

Key Ingredients: Polyethylene glycol | Concerns: Dryness, itchiness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 1 oz

If you experience occasional dryness, reach for these drops. Not quite as intense as some of the others on this list, they’re ideal if your eyes just feel slightly scratchy or gritty from time to time. A drop or two should work instantly, making your eyes feel so much more comfortable. Something to note: These drops are on the runny side, so be sure to use a gentle touch when squeezing the dropper.

Key Ingredients: Sodium carboxymethylcellulose | Concerns: Dryness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 1 oz

If you experience dryness more often than not, this long-lasting formula is a great choice. This brand boasts that it was created by an ophthalmologist and is the result of nearly two decades of research (color us impressed). Also nice: It’s an electrolyte-balanced option that does a great job of hydrating the eye, and it's preservative-free. It tends to come out of the bottle quickly, so keep that in mind when dropping it into your eyes.

Key Ingredients: Brimonidine tartrate | Concerns: Redness | Dosage: 1 drop every 6 to 8 hours | Size: 0.08 oz

If redness and dryness go hand-in-hand for you, consider these redness-relieving drops, which use brimonidine, an ingredient that targets redness quickly. It's one of the best ways to brighten the whites of your eyes. The results also last for eight hours, making these a great pick to use on bleary-eyed mornings.

It's important to note that some people report blurred vision when trying these drops. While we didn't notice any side effects, it's worth paying attention to if you have certain medical conditions like glaucoma or retinal detachment. It's always best to talk to your doctor before trying a new solution.

Emily Cieslak, associate editor: "I never used eye drops before trying these, but they were super easy to use. It's amazing to watch how quickly they make your eyes whiter—I think they are great for occasions where you really want your eyes to pop, like weddings with lots of photos."

Key Ingredients: Mineral oil | Concerns: Dryness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.01 oz

“It’s being increasingly realized that the majority of dry eye patients may have meibomian gland disease, meaning the oil layer of the tears isn’t produced as well,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo. For these people, drops that contain oil, like this one, are extremely helpful. In particular, this one contains mineral oil—an ingredient better known for treating dry, sensitive skin—which makes it long-lasting and soothing, she says. The caveat? Some people can be allergic to mineral oil, so discontinue use if you experience irritation.

Key Ingredients: Citrate/borate buffer, sodium chloride | Concerns: Dryness | Dosage: 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.33 oz

Dryness (and itchiness and redness and every other eye issue) only becomes more challenging to treat when you’re also wearing contacts. Enter this mild formula that instantly re-wets and moisturizes contact lenses (so there’s no need to take them out) and also removes any minuscule particles like dust or makeup that may be irritating. The only caveat: It contains preservatives, so if that's a deal breaker for you, you might want to skip this one.

Key Ingredients: Mineral oil | Concerns: Dryness, burning | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.5 oz

Using the same eye drops repeatedly can cause contamination, especially if you're sharing the bottle with family members or are using it after an eye infection. “Some people prefer drops that come in individual-use vials, which they find easy to carry and use,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo. This product fits the bill and it is another preservative-free drop that moisturizes the eye, prevents tear loss, and comes in single-use, sterile vials. This is another mineral oil-based pick, so it may not be suitable for all.

Key Ingredients: Polysorbate, naphazoline hydrochloride | Concerns: Redness, burning, dryness | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops up to 4 times daily | Size: 0.4 oz

If you often deal with itchy, stinging eyes, look to these drops that instantly cool the eyes upon contact. To help treat irritation, this formula relies on a micro-emulsion formula that targets all three layers of tear film to keep your eyes comfortably lubricated for up to eight hours. Note: Menthol, which is in the formula, can be irritating to some, so we recommend chatting with your eye doctor if you're unsure if this is a good option for you.

Key Ingredients: Glycerin | Concerns: Dryness, burning, itching | Dosage: 1 to 2 drops as needed | Size: 0.33 oz

Those with super sensitive eyes may want to opt for super gentle options, and this is a choice pick. Not only are these preservative-free, but they’re also pH-balanced, contain a protective antioxidant, and are instantly hydrating and soothing. You can use them even if you’re wearing contacts, and they’re a good way to ward off dryness even before it starts, too. One thing to note is that the dropper on this bottle is a special design that requires a good amount of force to dispense the drops.

FAQ

• How often can you use eye drops for dry eyes?

  Dr. Hilal-Campo says you should never use eye drops for dry eyes more than four times a day. “Eye drops have preservatives in them that can be toxic to the cornea and conjunctival epithelium when used more frequently than instructed,” she explains. However, she notes that preservative-free formulas can be used as frequently as needed. “If you’re using eye drops more than four times daily, you should consider going to an eye care professional to get a prescription medication,” she adds.

• How many drops should you put into dry eyes?

  How many drops you should deposit into your eyes will depend on each formula and what the directions on the product indicate. According to Dr. Hilal-Campo, one drop per eye is typically considered a full dose, however, some formulas may indicate inserting three or more drops at a time.

• Can you use eye drops everyday?

  Although there's no set limit for how many days in a row you can use eye drops, long-term use is not recommended without the care of an ophthalmologist or eye care expert.

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