Best Over-the-Counter Eye Drops of 2025

Before buying any type of eye drops, it's important to speak with your doctor so they can evaluate your issue. In some cases, OTC eye drops are sufficient, but in other situations, you may need prescription medicated drops. If your issue can be resolved with OTC eye drops, you should know that there are drops with preservatives and others without them. The preservative-free eye drops are generally safe for most people -- including pregnant people. Drops with preservatives should be used more conservatively because they can worsen some cases. The same is true for other drops, such as the ones for redness relief. "Poor-quality artificial tears, or ones that tout the red out, often have chemicals that can cause problems including rebound redness, dilation of the eyes, corneal toxicity, blurred vision and worsening of dry eye disease," Koetting warned. Dr. Edmund Farris, an associate clinical professor of ophthalmology at Mount Sinai, added that these preservatives have the ability to c ... Read full article.