Reviewed by Sonia Kelley, OD, MS on July 25, 2024
There are numerous benefits of eye drops, but some types can cause complications due to overuse, not following instructions, and other factors. Here’s an overview of what they can treat, why you should follow directions, and why you should be cautious of using them too much when advised not to.
Types of Eye Drops
Many types of eye drops are on the market, including artificial tears, antibiotics, redness relief drops, and medicated drops to treat certain eye conditions like glaucoma. Some require a prescription while others are available over the counter.
Artificial Tears
Artificial tears have several uses. They lubricate the eyes, rinse away debris, and calm redness and irritation. They also add moisture to your natural tears to give you the type of relief you seek.
Artificial tears are available over the counter, with or without preservatives. You can use artificial tears without preservatives as often as you would like. But if you choose a product with preservatives, you should use them no more than four to six times a day.
Rohto Cooling Drops
Rohto is a brand of eye drops known for having a unique cooling effect in each product. Their trademark CoolSense Technology offers a touch of coolness with every drop to help soothe irritated eyes.
Rohto products include dry eye relief drops and eye whitening drops. They also have a drop that claims to temporarily relieve the effects of digital eye strain, such as dryness and irritation.
You can find Rohto eye drops online and at select pharmacies and retail stores.
Red-Eye Drops (Tetrahydrozoline)
These drops are designed to temporarily reduce redness in your eyes. The active ingredient in some redness relieving drops is a decongestant called tetrahydrozoline. It constricts the eye’s blood vessels, which visibly reduces redness.
Some brand-name redness relieving drops include Visine, Altazine, and Clarine. Tetrahydrozoline can be found in numerous store-brand (generic) drops as well.
Are red-eye drops bad for you?
In the short term, they’re okay to use. But overuse of eye drops may cause you to experience additional problems. When the effects of the drops start to fade, you may notice rebound redness, which is when your eyes are even redder than they were to begin with.
Lumify (Brimonidine)
Lumify is another redness relieving eye drop with the active ingredient brimonidine. Both Lumify and drops with tetrahydrozoline reduce redness by constricting blood vessels in the eyes. However, Lumify may have a lower chance of causing rebound redness than other red-eye drops because it has brimonidine rather than tetrahydrozoline.
Lumify usually starts to clear up redness within the first few minutes of its application, and its side effects are limited for most people. However, like tetrahydrozoline products, Lumify is still only meant for short-term or occasional use. You can get Lumify over the counter at your local pharmacy.
Medicated Eye Drops
Some eye conditions are treated with prescription medicated eye drops. For example, a doctor may prescribe antibiotic drops to treat a bacterial eye infection or anti-inflammatory drops to relieve symptoms of dry eye disease. Chronic conditions like glaucoma may require eye drops to lower eye pressure.
These medications are available with a prescription and should be used as instructed to ensure their effectiveness.
How Often Can You Use Eye Drops?
As with all medical products, it’s critical that you use them as directed. This goes for both prescription and non-prescription drops. Because different drops have different uses and different ingredients, the frequency of use depends on the specific drop.
For the most accurate guidelines, refer to the directions on the bottle or package label, the package insert, or on the product website. You can also ask your eye doctor how often you can safely use a specific types of eye drops.
Is It Bad to Use Eye Drops Daily?
Some types are okay to use when you need them. For example, preservative-free drops are okay to apply as often as needed to relieve eye dryness and irritation. But you should not use artificial tears with preservatives more than six times a day.
Redness relieving drops should not be used for longer than a 72-hour period. Contact your eye doctor if you continue to have symptoms after this time. Using redness relief drops for longer than this can cause rebound redness and other problems in the long term.
If you continue to notice redness and irritation for long periods, you should get an eye exam to determine the underlying cause of your symptoms.
Side Effects of Using Eye Drops
The following eye drops side effects are not uncommon and may last for a short time. They do not require medical care unless they persist:
- Excess tearing
- Itching
- Mild discomfort
- Feeling as though something is in your eye
- Temporary blurred vision or stinging when applying the drops
However, you should contact your eye doctor if you experience more serious side effects, such as:
- Pain and irritation
- Changes in vision
- Redness
- Eye discharge
- Allergic reactions such as itching, rash, or swelling in the face or mouth
You should call your eye doctor if your symptoms get worse or don’t go away, or if you experience any side effects that aren’t listed above.
Dangers & Risks of Eye Drops
Some dangers of eye drops are more serious than others. Here are some things to look out for regarding the safe use of ophthalmic products:
- Rebound redness – This can occur due to the overuse of red-eye drops.
- Negative side effects – Itchy eyes, irritation, eye pain, and/or allergic reactions can occur in response to the medication or ingredients in eye drops, such as preservatives.
- Product contamination – If a product is expired or improperly handled or stored, it can become contaminated and lead to eye irritation or an eye infection.
- Product recall – If ingredients are deemed unsafe by the manufacturer or the FDA, a product may be recalled.
The FDA issues recalls for eye drops and other products that are dangerous to use or consume. If a product you use is recalled, you should stop use immediately and dispose of it.
Decongestant eye drops should not be used by individuals with narrow-angle glaucoma. They are at risk of developing angle-closure glaucoma, which is a medical emergency.
If you have any questions or notice any new or worsening symptoms, contact your eye doctor for assistance.
What Happens If Someone Swallows Eye Drops?
When you look at your bottle, you may notice a message on the label that says, “For external use only.” This instruction is crucial to follow. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, orally consuming red-eye drops can have serious complications. In some cases, drinking these eye drops can even be fatal.
The active ingredient in some redness relief drops is tetrahydrozoline. It reduces visible redness by narrowing blood vessels in the eyes. And while this ingredient is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the eyes, it can be toxic if ingested.
An adult or child who accidentally drinks eye drops containing tetrahydrozoline may experience hypothermia, drowsiness, slowed heartbeat, slowed breathing, and in some cases, coma. Call 911 immediately if you believe someone has consumed redness relieving eye drops by mouth.
And be sure to keep all your medications in a safe place where children can’t reach them.
