If your eyes are itchy, red, or irritated, chances are good that you’ll reach for eye drops for relief. But which drops do you need? Regardless of whether it’s allergies, dry air, or an eye infection, there are drops for every problem depending on your symptoms. Drops can be bought over the counter or prescribed by your doctor. Here’s a breakdown of which ones work best for which problems.
Itchy Eyes and Allergies
If your eyes feel itchy, allergies may be to blame. AllAboutVision explains that eye drops with antihistamines can stop the itchiness, watering, and redness of allergies by blocking histamine in your eyes. These drops work in the same way oral antihistamine pills can stop sneezing and runny nose caused by allergies.
Dry Eye
If your eyes occasionally feel dry or are dry due to weather conditions, fatigue, driving, or working at a computer for long periods of time, you may find relief with lubricating drops. Doctors also refer to these as artificial tears. There are over-the-counter (OTC) versions of these drops available to add moisture to your eyes and give natural tears a boost.
If OTC drops don’t give you relief or if you develop chronic, recurring dry eye symptoms, see your doctor to find out if prescription artificial tears or anti-inflammatory drops may help.
Redness
Eye redness can be painful and annoying, but decongestant drops may help by shrinking the blood vessels in the whites of your eyes. However, WebMD warns against using decongestant eye drops for long periods of time because you can develop a dependence on them. Chronic eye redness may be a sign of an underlying medical problem, so you should consult your doctor if it persists.
Eye Infections
Conjunctivitis—commonly called pink eye—is a very common eye infection and can be caused by either bacteria or a virus. You should see a doctor to determine what kind of medicine you need to treat this infection. Bacterial pink eye causes redness, soreness, and a yellow discharge. Viral pink eye is contagious and causes redness, soreness, and a clear or white discharge. Some viral conjunctivitis goes away on its own, and lubricating drops can give you relief.
Preservatives
WebMD also notes that most eye drops contain preservatives to keep bacteria from growing in them. Some people are sensitive or allergic to preservatives, and using drops that contain them may cause redness and irritation. There are preservative-free drops available that come in single doses that you throw away after using once.
If you wear contact lenses, you may need to remove them before using eye drops other than rewetting drops or saline solution. If you’re in the Atlanta area and are experiencing any of these eye problem, contact Woodhams Eye Clinic to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced doctors.
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