Artificial Tears: What They Are, How They Work, and What to Know Before Using Them

When your eyes feel gritty, burning, or just plain tired, artificial tears, over-the-counter eye drops designed to mimic natural tears and relieve dryness. Also known as eye lubricants, they’re one of the most common remedies for dry eyes—a condition that affects more than 16 million adults in the U.S. alone. These aren’t just water in a bottle. They’re carefully blended solutions that replace missing moisture, soothe irritation, and sometimes even help your eyes produce more of their own tears over time.

Not all artificial tears are created equal. Some contain preservatives that can irritate sensitive eyes with daily use. Others are preservative-free, meant for people who need to use them more than four times a day. Some include oils to slow tear evaporation, while others add electrolytes to match your eye’s natural chemistry. Then there’s the question of thickness: gels and ointments last longer but blur vision, making them better for bedtime than daytime. If you’re using them regularly, it’s worth knowing what’s in the bottle—because what helps one person might make another’s eyes worse.

People who spend hours on screens, wear contact lenses, take certain medications like antihistamines or antidepressants, or live in dry, windy, or air-conditioned environments are more likely to need artificial tears. But if you’re relying on them daily for more than a few weeks, it could be a sign of something deeper—like meibomian gland dysfunction, autoimmune disease, or even vitamin A deficiency. That’s why many of the posts below dive into how these drops interact with other treatments, why some people don’t respond to them at all, and when to stop guessing and see a specialist.

You’ll find real-world advice here: how to pick the right brand, what ingredients to avoid, why some drops cost ten times more than others with the same active ingredients, and how to tell if your dry eyes are just annoying—or a red flag for something serious. Whether you’re new to artificial tears or have been using them for years, this collection gives you the facts you need to use them safely, effectively, and without wasting money on products that don’t actually help.