Are eye drops a good gift?

For the right person, yes. Someone who already reaches for eye drops most days tends to appreciate a bottle they didn’t have to remember to buy, much like good socks or a fresh notebook. For someone who has never mentioned their eyes, a bottle can land as a comment rather than a present.

When it works

• They’ve told you their eyes feel dry, scratchy or tired.
• They already use over-the-counter drops and run out often.
• They spend long hours at screens, drive a lot, or live somewhere dry.
• It sits alongside other things, not on its own as the whole gift.

When to hold off

If a doctor prescribes their eye drops, they shouldn’t add another product without asking, so a bottle of Quell may go unused. The same goes for contact lens wearers, because Quell’s label doesn’t cover lenses.

The one question to ask first

Quell’s label carries this caution: Caution should be used in those with egg or bird allergies — For use in the eyes only. The formula contains emu oil. If you don’t know whether they have an egg or bird allergy, find out before you order. Egg or bird allergy and Quell explains the wording.

Why Quell in particular

Its label says it’s For use as a protectant against further irritation or to relieve dryness of the eye, and it’s preservative-free, with emu oil, manuka honey and other natural ingredients in a milky brown solution. That last part is worth a word on the card, so the color doesn’t surprise them.

If it’s a fit, see prices and buy. If you’re still deciding, gift ideas for someone with dry eyes has a few things to pair it with.