What kind of eye drops should I use?
Eye drops or ointments exist to treat many eye conditions. Some are over-the-counter and others are prescription. To ensure the most appropriate and efficient treatment, an evaluation by Dr. Dold is recommended.
If you are treating any of the following symptoms, use this general guide to choose which eye drops are most effective at eliminating your eye irritations. If symptoms persist or get worse, consult our doctor.
Dryness: Lubricating eye drops, or artificial tears, provide short-term relief for dry eyes. Avoid decongestants – although they are advertised to relieve dry, red eyes, they can worsen your symptoms of dry eye.
Redness: Decongestant drops relieve redness. Using decongestants frequently can cause your eyes to build up sa tolerance, causing increased redness in your eyes. Usually decongestant drops are not recommended as they are merely masking a symptom of an underlying condition.
Infection: Over-the-counter lubricating drops and antihistamine eye drops provide relief for various eye infections. However, they don't always treat the underlying cause. An evaluation is recommended.
Allergies & Itching: Antihistamine eye drops treat itching due to allergies. Once again, avoid the decongestants when aiming to relieve allergy symptoms.
Soreness, Swelling & Mattering (Discharge): For relief, use lubricating eye drops. With these symptoms it is vital to treat the underlying cause, so if you have symptoms for extended periods of time you should consult Dr. Dold.
Eye Drops for Contacts: Dr. Dold and Dr. Schwartz prefers to work to fit a contact lens that is comfortable for the entire day. However, circumstances arise where you experience discomfort in association with your contacts. Then, it is recommended that you use contact lens rewetting drops. These eye drops are formulated specifically for use with contact lenses, unlike other over-the-counter and prescription eye drops.