Over the counter (OTC) products for dry eyes
A variety of non-prescription products are available for dry eyes including the eye drop or artificial tears, topical ointment, and gels. Consult with your doctor first about what might be suitable for you. Artificial tears might be all you need to manage the symptoms of dry eyes. Some people might need to put eye drops frequently several times a day. While some people must use them once a day. It is also important to consider the following factors when you select an over the counter (OTC) product:
Preservative vs. non-preservative eye drops: Preservatives are a part of some eye drops to prolong the shelf life. You can use eye drops having preservatives up to four times a day. But the use of preservative eye drops more often result in the irritation of eyes. Non-preservative eye drops comes in package that consists of multiple single-use vials, after the use of a vial, you can throw it away. If you are relying on eye drops for more than four times a day, you can use non-preservative eye drops to ensure safety.
Drops vs. ointments: Lubricating eye ointments helps to coat the eyes providing a longer and lasting relief from dry eyes syndrome. However, these ointments are thicker in consistency than the eye drops and might cloud your vision. Ointments are therefore best options just before going to bed. Eye drops on the other hand do not interfere with vision and you can use them any time.
Drops that minimize redness: Some eye drops are helpful to minimize the redness resulting from dry eyes. However, it is best to avoid the prolonged use of eye drops as a solution for your dry eyes as they can cause irritation with time.