Eye drops are one of the most important products that are used to treat various eye problems, and the problem of dryness is one of the most common problems that are exposed to, and moisturizing eye drops are used to solve this problem.

What are eye drops?

It is a type of drops that is used to moisturize the eyes and relieve pain resulting from dry eyes, which may occur as a result of feeling tired or due to exposure to climate changes, prolonged use of the computer, and other problems that may lead to dry eyes.

Ingredients of moisturizing eye drops

The components of moisturizing eye drops may differ according to the brand, but there are some components that may be included in the composition of the drops, where one or more components overlap to form the drops, and the most popular ingredients that may be used are the following:

• An eye softener or laxative, which is a substance that moisturizes the mucous membrane in the eye and protects the eye. Among the most popular softeners are polyethylene glycol, glycerin, carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, and hydroxymethylcellulose.
• An eye astringent, which is a substance that works to purify the mucous membrane on the surface of the eye, and one of the most popular types is zinc sulfate.
• An eye emollient or emollient, which is a substance that helps protect and moisturize the eyelid, such as lanolin preparations or oily ingredients.
• An ingredient that reduces tension and constriction of the eyes, such as sodium chloride.
• Eye lotion.
• Astringent for the vessels in the eye.

The drops may contain some other inactive ingredients such as sorbitol, hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, polyacrylic acid, and other ingredients.

Some eye drops may contain electrolytes found in natural tears such as iron, potassium, and ferrous bicarbonate, while others may contain fatty components such as castor oil.

Types of eye drops

Eye drops are divided into two main types:

Eye drops that contain preservatives

This type usually contains some chemical elements, known as preservatives, which play an important role in preventing the growth of bacteria inside the eye drops that are opened, but this type may cause eye irritation, especially if you suffer from severe dehydration.

Moisturizing drops without preservatives

This type of moisturizing drops has less effect, because it contains much less additional ingredients than drops that contain preservatives, and this type is usually recommended by doctors if you are going to use it more than 4 times a day, or if you suffer from severe dry eye, or moderate dry eye.

Benefits of moisturizing eye drops

Eye drops are among the medicines that can be used sometimes without a prescription, due to their ability to treat dryness problems, as they help in:

• Keeping the outer surface of the eye moist.
• Treatment of dry eyes caused by aging.
• Treatment of dry eyes resulting from the use of certain medications.
• Treatment of dry eyes caused by an eye problem or disease.
• Treatment of dry eyes resulting from eye surgery.
• Treatment of dry eyes caused by environmental factors such as smoke and wind.
• Helps relieve eye irritation.

The best moisturizing eye drops

It is not possible to determine the best type of eye drops, because each type of these drops may not suit a person’s condition, so you may need to try a number of types until you find the right one for you, or you may need to consult a doctor regarding choosing the appropriate type For your condition, especially since some lubricating eye drops may have other capabilities that help treat different eye conditions and problems, and some of them may even reduce tear evaporation.

Best moisturizing eye drops with lenses

There are a few lubricating eye drops that can be used with lenses, but the best type of lubricating eye drop for contact lenses is one that may contain the ingredient polysorbate.

But if you are going to use any kind of moisturizing drops in general, you should read the instructions on the packaging to see if you can use them with lenses or not, especially since some types of moisturizing drops may contain a preservative that may cause an effect on the lenses.

Moisturizing eye drops how many times a day?

Moisturizing eye drops are usually used by placing one or two points inside the eye as much as a person needs in order to feel a state of comfort, and this means that there is no specific number to use, but it should not be overused either, especially since some types contain Preservatives, meaning they should be used less often than preservative-free drops, meaning they should not be used more than four times a day.

Damage to eye drops

Some types of these drops can cause some side effects, and some of them may be temporary, depending on the type of eye drops you use. The most important side effects that may result are the following:

• Temporary blurred vision, especially when using the drops for the first time.
• Feeling of temporary burning in the eye.
• Feeling of very mild irritation in the eye.
• Temporary feeling of a slight tingling in the eye.
• Feeling itchy in the eye.
• runny eye
• Feeling a strange taste in the mouth.
• Possibility of feeling a headache.
• Possibility of crusting in the eyelid.

In a study that was carried out, it was found that eye drops that contain preservatives may affect the effectiveness of antibiotics and may even be harmful to the surface of the eye. From the outer oily layer on the surface of the eye, and even using this type of drops for long periods may lead to dry eye syndrome.

Be sure to consult your doctor immediately if the side effects we mentioned above increase, especially since this type of drops does not cause serious side effects, but in rare cases it may cause eye pain, vision changes, and a state of irritation and inflammation. Such symptoms require stopping. Stop using the drops directly and visit the doctor immediately.

And now, at the conclusion of our article about lubricating eye drops and their different types, and their most important benefits and harms, we advise you, dear reader, not to overuse them, even if they are of the types that do not need a prescription, and that it is better to use them under the supervision of a doctor and according to his instructions, and we also advise you to visit the doctor in case The continuation of the problem that you suffer from in the eye, because this dryness may be an indication of a larger problem, with our wishes of all health and wellness.