What are the best eye drops for dry eyes?

There is no single “best” eye drop for dry eye, as treatment depends on the underlying cause. According to the TFOS DEWS III framework, dry eye is a multifactorial disease involving tear film instability, inflammation, and ocular surface damage. For many patients, preservative-free lubricating eye drops are recommended as first-line therapy, particularly for frequent or long-term use. An optometrist can help select drops based on tear quality, evaporation rate, and ocular surface findings.

How often should I use eye drops for dry eyes?

The frequency of eye drop use depends on symptom severity and the type of drop used. Preservative-free drops may be used multiple times per day, whereas preserved drops should be used less frequently to avoid ocular surface irritation. If drops are needed more than 4–6 times daily, clinical guidance generally recommends preservative-free formulations and a dry eye assessment.

Can you use eye drops too often?

Yes. Overuse of preserved eye drops can worsen dry eye symptoms by disrupting the tear film and irritating the ocular surface. DEWS III emphasises minimising preservative exposure and addressing underlying causes—such as meibomian gland dysfunction or inflammation—rather than relying solely on frequent lubrication.

What is the difference between Polytears, Systane, and Hylo eye drops?

Polytears, Systane, and Hylo are lubricating eye drops, but they differ in formulation, viscosity, and preservative status. Some are better suited for mild, intermittent dryness, while others are designed for more persistent symptoms or contact lens wear. Brand name alone does not determine suitability; clinical evaluation does.

Are preservative-free eye drops better for dry eyes?

For many patients, yes. Preservative-free eye drops are commonly recommended for moderate to severe dry eye, frequent use, contact lens wear, and sensitive eyes. DEWS III highlights that long-term preservative exposure can contribute to ocular surface irritation in some people.

Can contact lens wear make dry eye worse?

Contact lenses can exacerbate dry eye symptoms by disrupting tear film stability and increasing evaporation. However, with appropriate lens materials, care systems, and compatible eye drops, many contact lens wearers can remain comfortable. Drops labelled as safe for use with contact lenses are typically preferred during lens wear.

How do I know which eye drops are right for me?

Dry eye is not a single condition. Effective management requires identifying whether symptoms are driven by evaporation, aqueous deficiency, inflammation, or eyelid disease. A dry eye assessment—including tear stability, ocular surface staining, and meibomian gland evaluation—helps guide targeted treatment rather than trial-and-error.

Are thicker eye drops better than watery ones?

Not always. Thicker drops may provide longer relief but can blur vision and may not be ideal for daytime use. Thinner drops may be better tolerated but may require more frequent application. DEWS III supports matching drop viscosity to symptom pattern and lifestyle needs.

Can dry eye be treated without eye drops?

Yes. While lubricating drops are commonly used, DEWS III emphasises a stepwise approach that may include eyelid hygiene, heat therapy, management of meibomian gland dysfunction, environmental modification, and lifestyle changes such as reducing prolonged screen use. Eye drops often remain part of treatment when symptoms affect comfort or visual quality.

When should I see an optometrist for dry eyes?

Seek professional assessment if symptoms are persistent, worsening, or affecting activities such as reading, screen use, or driving. Ongoing reliance on eye drops without improvement suggests an underlying issue that may require targeted treatment.

Why Your Optometrist Prescribes Your Contact Lens Solution (and Why You Shouldn't Swap It)

Most people treat contact lens solution like shampoo: whatever is on special will do. It won't. Your solution is prescribed by your optometrist, in the same way your lenses are. It is selected to match two things: the material your lens is made of, and the biology of your own eye. It is not something you pick off the shelf because you like the bottle.

Why the solution is part of the prescription

Every lens material behaves differently. Some attract protein, some attract lipid, and each takes up and releases the disinfectant in a solution in its own way. Your eyes differ too: your tear film, how much protein and oil you deposit on a lens, and how your ocular surface tolerates a particular disinfectant. Put the wrong solution with the wrong lens on the wrong eye and you get the complaints we hear every week — lenses that feel dry by mid-afternoon, redness, stinging on insertion, and lenses that never seem to last.

So when we fit your lenses we also choose your solution. If a pharmacy or supermarket swaps you to something else, or you change because of price, you have changed your prescription without anyone checking it. If you want to change, ask us first.

How we choose: it is an algorithm, not a brand preference

There is no single best solution. Our optometrists work through the same steps for every wearer:

Your lens material. Each family of lens material takes up and releases disinfectant differently, so the material narrows the field first.
Your eye's biology. Your tear film, how much protein and lipid you deposit, and how your ocular surface tolerates a given disinfectant.
How you wear your lenses. Daily wear, occasional wear and overnight ortho-K each need a different routine.
How your eyes respond. If comfort or the lens surface is not right at review, we change the solution.

Steps two to four cannot be done from a web page. If you want to know which solution is best for you, book a contact lens check-up so we can look at your biology and recommend one.

One example: Acuvue lenses

Acuvue lenses from Johnson & Johnson are some of the most widely worn soft lenses, so here is step one worked through. For their etafilcon, galyfilcon and senofilcon materials, our usual starting point is Opti-Free PureMoist.

That is a starting point, not a prescription. It is general information and not medical advice for your eyes. It covers the material only, and your own eye may need something different. If your lenses still feel dry or uncomfortable on it, do not keep switching bottles: dry eye is a common reason, and it needs to be assessed. Book a Dry Eye Evaluation. It's a paid appointment, and the fee is confirmed when you book.

Rigid, ortho-K and scleral lenses follow a different care system altogether. See how to clean ortho-K and RGP lenses.

When we move you to a peroxide system

Multi-purpose solutions contain preservatives, and some eyes react to them. A hydrogen peroxide system disinfects without leaving a preservative on the lens once it has neutralised. Ever Clean Plus is best known for rigid lenses, but we also use it for soft lenses, and AOSept Plus with HydraGlyde is the other peroxide system we prescribe. Peroxide needs correct technique: lenses stay in the supplied case for the full neutralising time, and unneutralised peroxide must never reach the eye. That is another reason it should be prescribed and explained rather than self-selected. You can see the range in our hydrogen peroxide solutions.

The rules that apply to every solution

Fresh solution every time. Never top up what is already in the case.
Tap water never touches your lenses or your case.
Saline rinses. It does not disinfect and it does not store. For rinsing we use preservative-free Eyeye Saline, and Avizor Saline Unidose for filling scleral lenses.
Replace your lens case every three months.

If your lenses still feel dry

Sometimes the solution is not the problem. Dry eye and blepharitis both make lens wear uncomfortable, and changing bottles will not fix either. If your lenses are comfortable in the morning and miserable by evening, a preservative-free drop that can be used over lenses can help in the meantime — see our preservative-free eye drops — but the cause is worth finding. Book a Dry Eye Evaluation with us in Hamilton. It's a paid appointment, and the fee is confirmed when you book.

Not sure you are on the right solution?

Bring your lenses, your case and the bottle you are using. We fit soft, RGP, ortho-K and scleral lenses every day, and matching the care system to the lens and the eye is part of that work.

→ Book a contact lens appointment or call 07 847 3195.

Rose Optometry has fitted and looked after contact lenses from our Hamilton practice since 1969. The solutions above are in stock and dispatched by us, with free NZ shipping over $100. Browse all contact lens solutions.

This is general information. Always follow the specific care regime your own optometrist prescribed for your lenses, and read the current label.

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