Viscotears Gel PF — Preservative-Free Unit Dose (30 Vials)

✔ Stock on hand — ships NZ-wide from Rose Optometry, Hamilton.

The same gel, without the preservative

Viscotears Gel PF is the same carbomer gel as the tube, supplied as 30 preservative-free single-dose vials. It is the version we steer most people toward, and the reason is straightforward.

The standard Viscotears Liquid Gel contains cetrimide, a preservative. That is perfectly acceptable for occasional use. But a gel is typically dosed several times a day, and preservatives are hard on the ocular surface with repeated exposure. Do it every day for months and patients end up using more gel because their eyes are more irritated — which means more preservative, which means more irritation. We see that loop constantly.

Take the preservative out and the ceiling disappears. You can dose as often as you genuinely need without the product itself becoming a factor, which is exactly what long-term dry eye management requires.

The honest caveat: it costs more per dose than the tube. That is the trade and we won't pretend otherwise. If you reach for a gel occasionally — a windy day, a long flight — buy the tube and save your money.

Who it's for

• Anyone dosing more than about four times a day.
• Sensitive or reactive ocular surfaces.
• Long-term, indefinite daily use.
• Anyone who finds preserved drops sting, or leave the eye red by evening.
• Not the economical choice for occasional users — buy the tube for that.

Questions we get asked

Does it contain a preservative?
No. That is the entire point of this version, and why it suits frequent dosing. The rule worth repeating: more than four doses a day, go preservative-free.

Will it blur my vision?
Briefly — usually under a minute. It is a gel, so more than a thin drop and far less than an ointment.

Can I use it with contact lenses in?
No. Take lenses out first and give it at least 30 minutes before reinserting. Being preservative-free does not change that — it is the gel's consistency that is the problem on a lens.

Can I use one vial across the day?
They are single-use. Once opened, use it and discard it — there is no preservative keeping the contents sterile.

How often can I use it?
Follow the pack instructions, but without the preservative ceiling there is far more headroom than with the tube.

Is it worth the extra cost over the tube?
If you use it daily and indefinitely, yes. If you use it occasionally, no — buy the 10g tube. And the same point as always: a gel manages dryness, it does not treat the cause. If you are using drops several times a day and still uncomfortable, the drop isn't the problem — the diagnosis is. The usual culprit is the oil glands in the lid margin, which respond to heat and lid hygiene. Read meibomian gland dysfunction, browse the dry eye range or Optimel manuka honey drops, or Book a free Dry Eye Evaluation in Hamilton — 15 minutes, no cost.

Why buy from Rose Optometry

• Independent, optometrist-owned New Zealand practice — in Hamilton since 1969.
• Free optometrist advice with every order; reply to your order email and a clinician answers.
• Free NZ shipping on orders over $100, sent from Hamilton.