In an old Friends episode, Jennifer Aniston's character, Rachel Green, was afraid to go to the eye doctor. More truth than fiction, over a decade later, Aniston came out about her addiction to eye drops. Spotted in a public restroom hiding away from co-workers, Aniston secretly used artificial tears.

Yes, it is safe to use artificial tears four times a day, and preservative-free artificial tears every hour. OTC dry eye drops aren't meant for long-term relief. Use them on an as-needed basis. If your dry eye is an everyday occurrence, see your eye doctor.

Adding omega-3 fatty acids to your diet may help relieve dry eye signs and symptoms. These are available as supplements and in foods such as flaxseed, salmon and sardines. Castor oil eye drops. These eye drops may improve symptoms by reducing tear evaporation.

Many people find that the preservatives irritate their eyes, particularly if they have more severe dry eye. Many eye doctors recommend not using eye drops with preservatives more than four times a day.

Our Top Eye Drops For Dry Eyes

• Best Value: Systane Balance.
• Best for Daytime and Nighttime Use: Blink GelTears Lubricating Eye Drops.
• Best Preservative-Free: Refresh Relieva Preservative-Free.
• Best for Multiple Types of Dry Eye: Systane Complete PF.
• Best for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: Refresh Optive Mega-3.

The CDC's recommendation was specific for two brands of artificial tears products - EzriCare and Delsam Pharma. In general, “over-the-counter eye drops are safe to use,” says Stephanie Erwin, an optometrist at the Cleveland Clinic. It may still be overwhelming for you to figure out which drop is right for you.

Overuse of Clear Eyes Redness Relief can sometimes worsen your eye condition and cause your eyes to become redder. If your eye redness or dryness doesn't improve or worsens after using the medication for 3 days, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about alternative options.

For many people, artificial tears or eye drops can relieve mild cases of dry eye. While there are different kinds of eye drops and artificial tears, most eye drops can be used up to 4 times a day. When you experience dry eyes, it can affect your eye health in many ways.

Many eye doctors recommend not using eye drops with preservatives more than four times a day. Preservative-free eye drops have fewer additives. They are usually recommended for people with moderate to severe dry eye. They are often best for those who use artificial tears more than four times a day.

How long can you use eye drops after opening them? Many manufacturers recommend that you throw away eye drops 28 days after opening the bottle. This is because the preservatives inside can start to break down and allow bacteria to grow.

Unless your eye doctor gives you the green light, using eye drops daily for an extended time is typically not recommended. Most eye drops will state in their instructions to stop using them and consult an eye doctor if your symptoms last more than three days.

Don't use Clear Eyes Redness Relief for more than 3 days without speaking to your provider if your symptoms continue. Overuse of Clear Eyes Redness Relief can sometimes worsen your eye condition and cause your eyes to become redder.