The 13 best tears eye drop brands
Alcon, Thera Tears and GenTeal lead our ranking of 13 tears eye drop brands. Compare what each brand makes, visit its official site, or shop it online.
Tears Eye Drop brands, ranked
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1
Alcon
Large Alcon range of lubricating drops, including single-use Bion Tears vials and preservative-free options for sensitive eyes.
Top products: Tears Lubricant Eye Drops· Bion Tears
Website: alcon.com |Brands like Alcon
Popularity 10.0/10
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2
Thera Tears
Electrolyte-based lubricant drops, with an EXTRA formula for heavier dryness and multipacks sold in larger sizes.
Top products: Dry Eye Therapy· Dry Eye Therapy EXTRA
Website: theratears.com |Brands like Thera Tears
Popularity 7.5/10
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3
GenTeal
Lubricant drops in liquid and gel forms, with moderate formulas and gel versions that suit night-time use.
Top products: Tears Gel Drops· Tears Lubricant Liquid Eye Drops
Website: gentealtears.myalcon.com |Brands like GenTeal
Popularity 4.3/10
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4
Systane
Preservative-free vial drops that last for hours, popular for sensitive eyes needing frequent dosing.
Top products: Systane Hydration PF· Systane Pro PF
Website: systane.myalcon.com |Brands like Systane
Popularity 3.3/10
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5
Allergan
Owns the Refresh lubricant drop lines, a long-running option in pharmacies for everyday dryness.
Top products: Refresh Tears· OPTIVE FUSION
Popularity 2.6/10
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6
Oasis
Vial drops from a US maker, with a thicker Plus formula for heavier dryness and multi-packs.
Top products: TEARS PF PLUS· TEARS PLUS
Website: oasisclothingco.com |Brands like Oasis
Popularity 2.3/10
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7
Santen
Established in 1890 in Osaka, Japan, Santen has constantly pursued health and well-being innovations. The company has continued to innovate to improve its vision and create social innovations to keep everyone healthy from their first eyedrop solution made for people with eye disorders. The company aims to achieve a "World Vision" to reduce any shortcomings that could occur for someone with eye conditions. Through this plan, they work towards innovating ophthalmology, improving wellness, and creating inclusion.
Website: santen.com |Brands like Santen
Popularity 1.7/10
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8
Similasan
Homeopathic drops rather than standard lubricants, using diluted ingredients for dryness and irritation.
Website: similasanusa.com |Brands like Similasan
Popularity 0.9/10
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9
VISINE
Eye drops mainly for redness, with a few lubricating options for dryness.
Website: visine.com |Brands like VISINE
Popularity 0.7/10
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10
A.Vogel
Swiss herbal remedy brand, with eyebright-based drops for tired or irritated eyes.
Website: avogel.ca |Brands like A.Vogel
Popularity 0.6/10
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11
Optrex
UK eye care brand with eyewash and drops, sorted by symptom on its range.
Website: optrex.co.uk |Brands like Optrex
Popularity 0.6/10
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12
Clear Eyes
Redness relief drops and a Natural Tears lubricant, a pharmacy staple sold widely in multipacks.
Top products: Maximum Redness Relief· Natural Tears
Website: cleareyes.com |Brands like Clear Eyes
Popularity 0.4/10
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13
LUMIFY
Brimonidine drops that whiten bloodshot eyes, used for redness rather than dryness.
Website: lumifydrops.com |Brands like LUMIFY
Popularity 0.4/10
Official websites and social accounts
| Brand | Website | X / Twitter | YouTube | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcon | alcon.com | – | – | – | – |
| Thera Tears | theratears.com | – | – | – | – |
| GenTeal | gentealtears.myalcon.com | – | – | – | – |
| Systane | systane.myalcon.com | /systanelubricanteyedrops | – | – | – |
| Oasis | oasisclothingco.com | /getoasis | oasis_kitchens | – | – |
| Santen | santen.com | – | – | – | – |
| Similasan | similasanusa.com | /SimilasanUSA | – | @similasanusa | SimilasanUS |
| VISINE | visine.com | /visine | – | @visine | VISINEOfficial |
| A.Vogel | avogel.ca | /AVogelCA | – | @AVogel_ca | UCaMyAIyMaNiuQSTSiWAiGw |
Tears Eye Drops Buying Guide
For those who suffer from dry eyes, eye drops can provide much-needed relief. However, with so many eye drop options available, it can be challenging to find the right one for you. To help make your decision easier, we’ve put together this Tears Eye Drops Buying Guide.
What are Tears Eye Drops?
Tears eye drops are a type of artificial tears used to relieve dry eyes. They function by lubricating the surface of the eye and reducing dryness, irritation, and redness. The solution often consists of saline, water, and other ingredients to mimic the properties of natural tears. Tears eye drops can be used to treat chronic dry eye syndrome, eye allergies, contact lens-related dry eye, and eye irritation caused by environmental factors such as wind, smoke, and air conditioning.
Types of Tears Eye Drops
There are various types of tears eye drops, so it's essential to understand the differences between them to find a suitable one for your needs. Here are the three most common types of eye drops:
Preservative-free Tears Eye Drops
Preservative-free tears eye drops are designed for individuals with mild to moderate dry eyes. Unlike other eye drops, preservative-free versions come in individual, single-dose units that need to be discarded after use. This type of eye drops is ideal for people allergic to preservatives, as they can cause eye irritation, and patients that need to use eye drops frequently throughout the day.
Artificial Tears Eye Drops
Artificial tears eye drops are the most common type of eye drops available on the market. They contain a combination of water, saline, and other ingredients that mimic the properties of natural tears, making them an effective option for dry eyes caused by a lack of tears. This type of eye drops is available in both preservative-free and multi-dose versions.
Gel Eye Drops
Gel eye drops operate in the same way as artificial tears eye drops. However, they typically contain a more substantial portion of thicker agents such as carbopol, which provides longer-lasting relief for severe cases of dry eyes. This type of eye drops is available in multi-dose bottles and single-dose units.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Tears Eye Drops
As with any medication, choosing the right type of tears eye drops starts with evaluating your needs. Here are a few factors to keep in mind when selecting a tears eye drop product:
Symptom Severity
The severity of your dry eye symptoms will determine the type of tears eye drops that are most suitable for you. If you have mild cases of dry-eyed or irritated eyes caused by environmental factors such as wind, smoke, or air conditioning, preservative-free or artificial tears eye drops may be the best option. However, if your symptoms are more severe, gel eye drops may provide longer-lasting relief.
Allergies
If you have allergies, it's essential to choose preservative-free tears eye drops, as the ingredients used to preserve other types of eye drops can cause irritation and allergic reactions. In case of severe allergic reactions, it’s best to consult with your doctor before using any eye drops.
Contact Lenses
If you wear contact lenses, you need to choose a type of tears eye drop that is compatible with your lenses. Typically, artificial tears or preservative-free tears eye drops are the right option for individuals who wear contact lenses.
