What are eye drops used for?

Eye drops are used for many different jobs. Over-the-counter lubricating drops, like Quell, are labeled for dryness of the eye. Other OTC drops are labeled for itching or minor irritation, and prescription drops are used for conditions an eye doctor manages. Some drops are only used in an eye doctor’s office during exams. The Uses line on the Drug Facts label tells you what any OTC drop is for.

What are eye drops used for, in general?

“Eye drops” is a broad name for liquid medicines and solutions put directly into the eye. They range from simple lubricants you can buy at any pharmacy to prescription products with very specific purposes. Broadly, they fall into a few groups:

• Lubricating drops, sold over the counter, which add moisture and support the tear film.
• Other OTC drops labeled for itchy eyes or minor irritation.
• Prescription drops that an eye doctor prescribes and monitors for specific conditions.
• Drops used in the exam chair, such as ones that widen the pupil or numb the surface for a test.
• Saline and rinsing solutions, used to flush or clean rather than as medicine.

What are lubricating eye drops good for?

Lubricating drops are the most common OTC type. They’re made for the everyday dryness that comes from screens, wind, heated rooms, air travel and air conditioning. Quell is one of them, and its label lists one purpose. The label’s Uses line reads: For use as a protectant against further irritation or to relieve dryness of the eye.

How a lubricating drop goes about that depends on its formula. Quell’s active ingredients are Glycerol (1.0%), Polysorbate 80 (1.0%) and Light Mineral Oil (0.5%), and it’s designed to reinforce the tear film’s oil layer to help reduce moisture loss. Our guide to what lubricating eye drops are explains the category in more detail, and artificial tears vs. lubricating eye drops sorts out the names.

What are eye drops for when a doctor prescribes them?

Prescription eye drops are chosen by an optometrist or ophthalmologist for a specific problem they’ve identified, at a specific dose, often with follow-up visits to see how they’re working. Because the reasons vary so widely, the only reliable source on what a prescription drop is for is the doctor who prescribed it and the pharmacy label that comes with it.

Two practical rules apply. Don’t use someone else’s prescription drops, and don’t start an OTC drop alongside a prescription drop without asking first. Quell’s label doesn’t cover use with other eye drops, so that question goes to your eye doctor or pharmacist. Our guide on using Quell with other eye drops has more.

Drops used in an eye exam

If you’ve had a full eye exam, you’ve probably had drops that made your pupils large and your vision blurry for a few hours, or drops that briefly numbed the eye before a pressure check. These are given by the doctor or staff in the office for that visit, not sold for home use.

How to tell what any eye drop is for

Every OTC drug sold in the US carries a Drug Facts panel in a standard FDA format. Reading it takes a minute and answers most questions:

• Active ingredients: what does the work, and its purpose (for example, lubricant).
• Uses: exactly what the product is labeled for. This is the line that answers the question in this guide.
• Warnings: who should be careful, when not to use it and when to stop.
• Directions: how many drops and how often.
• Other information and inactive ingredients: storage, appearance and everything else in the bottle.

Our guide to the Uses section explains how to read that line, and how to read a Drug Facts label walks through the whole panel. You can see Quell’s full panel on the Drug Facts page.

What eye drops aren’t for

• They’re not a substitute for an eye exam when something is wrong, such as pain, vision changes or an injury.
• They’re not meant to be shared. A bottle touches the eye area of whoever uses it.
• They’re not interchangeable. A drop labeled for one purpose isn’t labeled for another.
• They’re not for anywhere but the eyes. Quell’s label warnings include: Caution should be used in those with egg or bird allergies — For use in the eyes only.

Choosing a drop for everyday dryness

If your eyes feel dry from screens, weather or indoor air, a lubricating drop is the category to look at. Check the Uses line, the warnings (Quell’s egg and bird caution, for instance) and the directions. Quell’s directions read: Apply 1 drop 3 times per day in each eye. If you aren’t sure dryness is the issue, our dry eye self-check can help you organize what you’re noticing, though it’s not a diagnosis. The label also says: Stop use and ask a doctor if you feel eye pain or changes in your vision, if irritation or redness continues, or if the condition worsens or persists for 72 hours.