Best Eye Drops for Dry Eyes in the UK: An Optometrist's Guide
Walk into any UK pharmacy and you'll find a whole shelf of eye drops for dry eyes: moisturising drops, hydrating drops, soothing drops, drops for tired eyes. Most people pick one at random, use it for a few days, and decide eye drops "don't work".
The truth is that different drops do different jobs. As an optometrist with over 20 years' clinical experience, this is the guide I hope every patient read before buying their first bottle.
Why your eyes feel dry in the first place
Your tear film has three layers: a mucus layer that helps tears stick to the eye, a watery layer that hydrates, and an oily layer on top that stops the tears evaporating. Dry eye happens when any of these layers isn't doing its job.
There are two main types, and most people have a mix of both:
• Aqueous-deficient dry eye: your eyes don't produce enough of the watery part of the tears.
• Evaporative dry eye: you make enough tears, but they evaporate too quickly because the oily layer is poor. This is the most common type and is usually caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) or blepharitis.
This matters because a watery drop can't fix an oil problem. Knowing which type you have makes choosing a drop much easier.
The main types of dry eye drops
sodium hyaluronate drops
Sodium hyaluronate holds onto water and forms a smooth, lubricating layer over the eye that lasts longer than basic drops. It's my first choice for most people with everyday dry eye, including dryness from screens, air conditioning and central heating. Many are available in different strengths: a lighter drop for mild symptoms and a thicker one for more persistent dryness.
Basic lubricating drops
Drops based on ingredients such as carmellose or hypromellose are often the cheapest option. They give quick relief but tend to wear off sooner, so you may need to use them more often.
Lipid (oil-based) drops and sprays
These help to restore the oily layer of the tear film, so they're designed for evaporative dry eye. If your eyes feel fine when you wake up but get worse through the day, or you've been told you have MGD or blepharitis, a lipid-based product can help, ideally alongside warm compresses.
Gels and night-time ointments
Thicker gels and ointments stay on the eye for longer but blur your vision temporarily, so they're best used at bedtime. They're useful if your eyes feel gritty or sore first thing in the morning.
Drops to avoid: "redness relief" drops
Drops that promise to "get the red out" work by shrinking the blood vessels on the eye. They don't treat dryness, and with regular use the redness can come back worse when they wear off. If your eyes are red as well as dry, treat the dryness and see an optometrist.
Preservative-free or preserved?
If you use drops more than four times a day, or you wear contact lenses, choose preservative-free. Some preservatives used in multi-dose bottles can irritate the surface of the eye with frequent use, which is the opposite of what you want when your eyes are already dry.
Preservative-free drops used to come only in single-use vials, but most are now available in multi-dose bottles with special filters that keep the contents sterile. Always check how long a bottle can be used once opened, this is usually printed on the box.
Which drop is right for you?
• Dry, tired eyes after screen use: a sodium hyaluronate drop, plus regular screen breaks.
• Gritty, burning eyes that get worse through the day: likely evaporative dry eye. Use a lubricating drop alongside a heated eye mask and daily lid cleaning.
• Sore, gritty eyes on waking: a gel or ointment at bedtime.
• Contact lens wearer: a preservative-free drop that's labelled as compatible with lenses.
• Itchy eyes with crusty lid margins: this points to blepharitis. Drops will soothe, but lid hygiene treats the cause. See our blepharitis treatment guide.
How often should you use eye drops?
Start with 1 to 2 drops in each eye up to four times a day, and increase if your symptoms need it. Many sodium hyaluronate drops can be used more often. Follow the instructions on the pack.
The most common mistake I see is stopping as soon as eyes feel better. Dry eye is usually a long-term condition, and the drops are what's keeping you comfortable. Stop, and the symptoms often creep back within days. Think of drops as maintenance, not a one-off fix.
Tips to get the most from your drops
• Wash your hands before use and don't let the tip of the bottle touch your eye or lashes.
• Tilt your head back, gently pull down your lower lid and let one drop fall into the pocket.
• Close your eyes gently for 30 seconds afterwards rather than blinking hard.
• Wait at least five minutes between different types of eye drop.
• Keep a bottle at your desk. Most people forget their drops during the day, which is when screen use dries the eyes most.
• At the screen, use the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds, and remember to blink fully.
When eye drops aren't enough
If you're using drops regularly and still struggling, the problem is often blocked meibomian glands rather than a lack of moisture. Drops replace the tears; they don't fix the glands. In that case, the most effective routine is heat, clean, then lubricate:
1. Warm compress for 7 to 10 minutes with a heated eye mask to soften the blocked oils
2. Clean the lid margins with an eyelid cleanser
3. Use your lubricating drops through the day
Read more in our daily routine for meibomian gland dysfunction and our ultimate guide to dry eye treatment.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best eye drops for dry eyes in the UK?
For most people, a preservative-free sodium hyaluronate drop is the best place to start. If your symptoms are worse later in the day or you have MGD or blepharitis, add warm compresses and lid hygiene, and consider a lipid-based product.
Can I use eye drops every day?
Yes. Lubricating drops are designed for daily, long-term use. If you use them more than four times a day, choose a preservative-free drop.
Can I use eye drops with contact lenses?
Only drops that are labelled as suitable for contact lens wearers. If you also have blepharitis, see can you wear contact lenses with blepharitis?.
Why do my eyes water if they're dry?
Watery eyes are a common sign of dry eye. When the surface of the eye becomes irritated, it triggers a flood of reflex tears. These are mostly water and lack the oil needed to stay on the eye, so they run off without fixing the dryness.
When should I see an optometrist?
Book an eye examination if your eyes are painful, very red or sensitive to light, if your vision changes, if only one eye is affected, or if your symptoms haven't improved after a few weeks of regular drops. Seek urgent care for sudden pain or loss of vision.
Looking for drops? Our hydrating eye drops contain 0.3% sodium hyaluronate, a higher strength designed for persistent dry eye. They're preservative-free, suitable for contact lens wearers, and come in a 10ml pump bottle that lasts 6 months once opened. For the complete routine, try our hydration and cleansing bundle.
About the Author
Kris is a UK-registered optometrist with over 20 years of clinical experience in dry eye management.
This article is for general information and does not replace a personal eye examination. If you have eye pain, reduced vision or significant light sensitivity, seek advice urgently from an Optometrist or your GP
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