Whether we’re enjoying the outdoors during pollen season or putting in a long day at the computer with too few breaks, we are all subject to getting red, bloodshot eyes.
As long as they are not the result of an infection or eye trauma (more about distinguishing between those in a moment!), red eyes can easily be treated with non-prescription, over-the-counter eye drops.
But when confronted with rows of options at the store or pages of listings when shopping online, how do you choose? We’ve taken the guesswork out with our Best Eye Drops for Red Eyes guide.
Take No Chances
Eyesight is precious and you should never gamble with it. In most instances, red eyes are related to irritants, allergies, contact lenses use or eye strain. However, if any of the following are the case, see your physician immediately:
- You have been struck in the eye
- Your eyes are red longer than 2 to 3 days
- You have eye pain or vision changes
- You have discharge from one or both eyes
For purposes of this guide, we are assessing over-the-counter products that are the best eye drops for red eyes resulting from common, everyday activities or factors.
Top 10 Eye Drops for Red Eyes Ultimate Table
| Picture | Name | Size | Price | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Similasan Irritated Eye Relief Drops | 0.33oz | $ | 4.7 |
 | 2. Alcon Naphcon-A Allergy Relief Eye Drops | 0.5oz x 2 | $$$$ | 4.7 |
 | 3. Bausch & Lomb Advanced Eye Relief Instant Redness Reliever | 0.5oz x 4 | $$ | 4.6 |
 | 4. Visine® Sterile Advanced Redness + Irritation Relief Eye Drops | 1oz x 3 | $$$ | 4.5 |
 | 5. Clear Eyes Maximum Strength Redness Relief | 0.5oz | $ | 4.5 |
 | 6. Opcon-A Eye Drops | 0.5oz x 2 | $$ | 4.4 |
 | 7. ROHTO V COOL REDNESS RELIEVER | 0.4oz | $ | 4.4 |
 | 8. Eyebright Drops - Wisdom of the Ages | 1oz | $$$ | 4.3 |
 | 9. Rohto Redness Relief Arctic | 0.4oz | $ | 4.2 |
 | 10. Rohto Maximum Redness Relief | 0.4oz | $ | 4.2 |
Buying Information for Eye Drops for Red Eyes
How the Products Work
Often referred to as whitening eye drops, most of these products contain what is called a “vasoconstrictor”. This is an ingredient that eliminates redness by shrinking the tiny blood vessels that lie beneath the white part of the eye so they are less visible.
When we experience red eyes, these tiny blood vessels have become dilated or swollen. The vasoconstrictor allows them to shrink back to their normal size.
While vasoconstrictors have proven to be very safe, drops that contain them should not be overused since they actually have a rebound effect in which redness of the eyes can increase as resistance to the whitening effects builds up. Use of eye drops containing vasoconstrictors can also result in significant eye dryness.
Prevention
As with most medical conditions, the very best strategy is prevention. To avoid red eyes:
- Don’t Rub Them. Your hands and fingers could have substances on them that cause irritation or you could scratch your cornea.
- Practice Terrific Hygiene. Wash your hands before touching your eyes and keep your hands away from your face.
- Take a Break from the Computer. Use the 20-20-20 rule. Look away every 20 minutes at an object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
- Protect Eyes from Irritants. Wear sunglasses outdoors, use swim goggles in the pool and when working with aerosols (spray paint, cleaners, etc.), wear full-coverage goggles.
Home Care
When red eyes do occur, rest them to reduce fatigue or eye strain. Use cool compresses on them for short periods of time. And, of course, reach for our guide to the best eye drops for red eyes.
Top 3 Best Eye Drops for Red Eyes Reviews
Please note: when using ANY of the products in our guide:
- Discard the bottle if the contents become cloudy or change color
- Do not touch the container tip to any surface to avoid contamination
- Remove contact lenses before use
- Replace the cap after every use
- Discard after the expiration date has passed
- Do not use on children under 2 without physician approval
- Do not use if you have glaucoma without physician approval
1. Similasan Irritated Eye Relief Drops
Ironically, after all our talk about vasoconstrictors, the top rated drops for red eyes do NOT contain this ingredient! Similasan Irritated Eye Relief drops are made from a homeopathic or 100% all-natural formula that has been around for decades.
They work by stimulating the body’s natural ability to lubricate the eyes and temporarily relieve redness, itchiness and burning. Perfectly safe for children over 2 as well as adults, they can be used by themselves or in conjunction with other over-the-counter medications or prescription medications.
Because Similasan drops do not contain any chemicals, they can be used as often as you like for as long as you like without any dryness or rebound effect. Naturally they are a favorite with consumers and with us for this reason.
2. Alcon Naphcon-A Allergy Relief Eye Drops
Do not let the name of this eye drop mislead you. While its name is “Allergy Relief Eye Drops”, the product is most often used to relieve eye redness. In contrast to the homeopathic product above, this eye drop is a fairly powerful over-the-counter vasoconstrictor but they share the same high rating.
This drop contains naphazoline – a common vasoconstrictor – combined with other medications (an antihistamine to stop itching and a preservative to ensure longevity of the product) to create Naphcon-A, once a prescription-only medication, but now used in over-the-counter products.
It is recommended that these drops be used precisely as directed (no more than 4 times daily) and not be used for more than a few days, but their effectiveness in reducing eye redness and accompanying symptoms puts them among the top 3 products on the market.
3. Bausch & Lomb Advanced Eye Relief
Bausch & Lomb is a mature brand that is well-known and respected in the medical world, so it no surprise to find one of their products in our top 3 and 2 of their products in our top 10.
Their Advanced Eye Relief Redness Reliever contains naphazoline as well, the same common vasoconstrictor that is in our #2 rated product. While vasoconstrictors can often give the eye a dry feeling, Bausch & Lomb has created this product to lubricate and soothe the eye while reducing redness.
Because it is so soothing, this drop is likely the best choice for anyone whose eye redness comes primarily from allergies or atmospheric irritants like dust.
We are particularly fond of this top 3 product because most people have found they need to use it only twice a day.