Ocular lubricant ophthalmic and Burning: What Users Say

• Per...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2020

For Dry Eye Disease "I’ve developed Scleritis as a symptom of lupus, which is an inflammation of the whites of the eye. My doctor said I should try Systane. Today, I just figured I’d try the Systane, although I’m not suffering from the symptom at the moment. My eyes started burning, and I couldn’t keep my eyes open, and had to flush them with water! Terrible product. Definitely informing my doctor. Big waste of money."

• Luc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 30, 2020

For Dry Eye Disease "I have used Systane for years, but got the new Systane Complete for dry eyes, and it is like putting fire to my eyes. Burns terribly. Idk what is in these that causes this, but it also does my husband's eyes the same way. Will not recommend this one to anyone."

• Lyr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "For dry eyes, using the Systane gel drops at bedtime, and comparing to Refresh or Blink gels, I notice a definite burn, possibly the preservative. The worst is that my sight is blurred like a Vaseline coat after using-can’t see/focus at all for over an hour to set the clock or read. Other gel drops equalize in 5 minutes or less. Second worst, my lashes are stuck together in the morning, so just to open my eyes, I probably pull out lashes. My eyes feel slightly better the next day after the gel on lashes is showered off, but still mostly unacceptable for me."

• Dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 29, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "Diagnosed with dry eye and blepharitis. Doctor gave me Systane Complete to use for dry eye. It made my eyes burn and very uncomfortable. I threw this stuff away, as anything that makes you that uncomfortable can't be any good. Not going to use Systane products from now on."

• Ida...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 31, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "My doctor suggested using Systane 4 times a day for dry eyes. After the second dose, I felt terrible, my eye was tearing nonstop and had burning and stinging sensations as if there were sand rubbing against the eye. The eye became very red, very sensitive to light, and the vision was very blurred, feeling like a white fog covering the eyesight! I stopped it right away, and it feels much better. I read the leaflet that came with it, and it stated that these symptoms and lots more were side effects of this drug."

• Pos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "Switched to Systane Ultra, applied drops several times a day. The drops burned occasionally and caused slightly blurred vision for a brief period after application. After 2 weeks, began to suddenly present symptoms of vertigo, dizziness, and nausea. The first episode lasted 20 hours. After a visit to my cardiologist due to an existing condition, it turns out that the vertigo could be a side effect - and 'dizziness' is listed in the product literature. Will stop using and switch to another preservative-free brand."

• MAD...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 29, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "Two weeks after eye surgery (cataract), I went in to see my eye doctor. My vision was great. He said my eye looked wonderful and was now completely healed. I was delighted! Then he gave me these Refresh Optive Mega-3 eye drops to use. I told him I finished the other eye drops and didn't want any more due to the filmy cloudiness they caused, but he insisted I use them. So I went home and put one drop into my eye, and oh, was that a HUGE MISTAKE. My eye turned red, swelled up, and it felt like someone had punched me in the eye. Watering, burning, and PAIN! I returned to his office, and he told me to go home and hold an ice bag on my eye for 15 minutes at a time. It's been six hours, and still no relief. BEWARE OF THIS PRODUCT!"

• Jus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2023

For Dry Eye Disease "I’ve been using Refresh Mega-3, and I felt relief at first. Then, within an hour or less, the stinging begins, itching and stinging. I want to rub my eyes so badly to stop the burn! This too was recommended by my doctor with a coupon. I'm going to stop using it! Going to buy another brand because I do need the eye drops because of dry eye."

• And...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2023

For Dry Eye Disease "I didn't connect it to the drops, but I have had burning, redness, blurred vision, and floaters since I started using Systane Ultra. I got a new prescription for glasses as I thought my eyesight had changed. I will stop using it today. I have been using this product for the last 6 months, so hope no permanent damage has been done. Avoid. MHRA should also look into the product."

• Sys...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "A year ago, I was given a small bottle sample of Systane for my dry eyes. But I seldom used it, and I observed most of the time my vision is blurry. Recently, after getting a pair of glasses, the optometrist prescribed Systane to me for dry eyes. So I finally bought a twin pack. Been using it on occasional days for 2 weeks and feeling a light burning sensation. On the 3rd week, I used it for 5 days in a row, and on the 3rd day, I started seeing 3-4 gray-black floaters in one eye. On the 5th day, I woke up with too many floaters plus a web-like sticky vision that moves whenever I move my eye from left to right. I went back to the optometrist and relayed about my floaters. She advised me to see an ophthalmologist ASAP. I even asked her maybe it was caused by Systane, and she said no, Systane doesn't cause floaters. But why did I get floaters suddenly after days of using Systane? Why are they prescribing this to people if it causes eye damage? I wish someone would investigate this product."

• Suz...
• April 6, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "Side effects horrific. Bloodshot eyes, pain, unbelievable itching that almost had my eye surgery canceled. Ophthalmologist claims it is because only the individual applicators are the only ones that are preservative-free, and that is what caused the adverse terrible effects. What was worse, the skin under my eyes was literally burnt to a crisp after using 1 week. Ultra, gel drops, and nighttime gel all caused the same terrible results. Read carefully what Alcon writes: preservative-free is only in the individual packets."

• Don...
• June 28, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "I bought a two-pack of your new complete from my eye doctor, and I used it a few days. Each time, a bad burning in both eyes. Can't use it. I would like to make others aware of this product and for you to figure it out. I switched to TheraTears with no problems."

• gra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2020

For Dry Eye Disease "I used the previous formula Systane with no problems, but this new formula burns my eyes. I switched to Genteal, and what a relief to my sore eyes. Both made by Alcon, so I don't know what the problem is, but the Ultra version hurts."

• LL6...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 7, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "I actually just did a search, “Systane causing grainy residue,” and I was shocked to find that other people have had side effects from these drops. I have also experienced worsened itching, burning, and blurred vision. I will not use these. I will inform the optometrist who recommended it."

• BFa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 19, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "I used Systane Ultra as directed by my surgery post-cataract surgery. My eyes burned and itched for several minutes after applying, but I thought it had something to do with the surgery. Then, a couple of months after surgery, I was advised to take Systane Nighttime ointment for eye dryness because I had started using a Bi-PAP machine. I tried it in one eye to start, and after the first night, my eye became irritated, and for 2 days following, it felt as though I had sand in my eye or a corneal abrasion. Both times when I reported this to my physician's office (Ultra and Nighttime Ointment), they seemed puzzled. But reading comments here, I see I'm not alone."

• Eye...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 9, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "I'm 50, and I've used other drops all my life with no problems. After a few weeks of using these drops, my eyes started burning, and I noticed my vision would get blurry at night while trying to watch TV. I never had these symptoms before using these drops, and it was getting so bad I finally decided to look at the reviews. Sure enough, I saw a lot of other people experiencing the same exact horrible side effects. I just threw mine in the trash. I just hope it didn't do any permanent damage."

• sjp...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 1, 2020

For Dry Eye Disease "I bought Systane Ultra yesterday due to supposed accolades of doctors. Used it once. Eyes became increasingly red. That night all lights had halos (maybe the viscosity of the fluid?). Eyes burned when I tried to read. I read the reviews to see if any others were having similar side effects. They were. I washed my eyes with a warm baby shampoo solution last night to start ridding my eyes of the residuals. They are better this morning. Unfortunately, the experience and the experience of others have left me skeptical of Alcon products, or at least this one."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 30, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "Had eye exam on the 28th of July, 2022, and doc said the dry eye issue could be helped with Systane Complete PF. It has helped a little but still burning after using it 4 times a day and the gel drops at bedtime. Woke up with a headache this morning, and it has not gone away, and it is past lunchtime. Can help but think it's due to the Systane drops. Will not take anymore and would not advise anyone else to take it."

• Mon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 24, 2017

"I have been using it for a month, and my eyes are a mess. I just thought maybe I had really bad allergies all of a sudden and that my eyesight was starting to go bad due to age. Then, on top of the watering and blurriness, my eyes started burning, and I finally put two and two together. I will stop using it immediately, and hopefully, there is no permanent damage."

• Sys...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 5, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "Due to ocular rosacea, my eyes are quite dry at night, so I gave these a try. The redness, burning, light sensitivity, and tearing began after day one. I was traveling for my daughter’s wedding and was very concerned that I may have pink eye. I tried the day and night drops one more day, and the pain and symptoms worsened. I used a competitor product so I’d be presentable for the big event to whiten and soothe my eyes! I never used Systane again. Now, after five days, the symptoms are subsiding some, but the redness and burning are still present. I can’t recommend this product."

• sco...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 17, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "I had a severely allergic reaction to Systane Ultra PF eye drops. I had to be on Desidone to treat the problem and had to visit my eye doctor several times. I had itching, burning, and the skin around my eyes was actually flaking off, and you couldn't remove it. If you were able to remove the dead skin, it would come right back. I spent several weeks with no sleep until I realized that this was the only thing I had changed in my routine. They should take these off the market."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "Started using Systane on the advice of an optometrist. It seemed to make my eyes burn, but I was under the impression that it was fairly benign medication. After a few months of using it periodically, it has become obvious to me that Systane has been the cause of my blurry vision and eye irritation. I woke up with some bad floaters and thought that it was the beginning of a retinal detachment. Kind of scary, and I don't know if it can be attributed to the use of Systane, but I can tell you that I will not use it anymore. You make your own decisions, but I would not advise its use."

• Ouc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 24, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "Have had dry eye for 15 years. Recently, my eye doctor provided a sample of Systane Complete. My eyes burn when the drops are applied. Continued stickiness in the eye. Redness of the eye. Would not recommend."

• S K...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 21, 2023

For Dry Eye Disease "Recently, I noticed that my eyes were burning and becoming cloudy after using my most recent bottle of Systane. Initially, I assumed there was something wrong with my eyes. However, I spent the past week at our vacation home and used a different bottle of the same product (with a different lot code), and I didn't experience any irritation. When I returned home and used the original bottle, the burning and clouding returned. To test whether the issue was with the particular bottle, I tried another bottle of the same product with a different lot number and didn't experience any problems. The problematic product has lot number 117EX and expires in May 2023."

• Lau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 29, 2020

For Dry Eye Disease "Been using Systane Ultra for 6 days for my dry eyes, and I didn’t feel any of the beneficial effects of the drops. It actually made it worse. My eyes got too sticky, and after 5 min, went dry again. Now I have this burning sensation and decided to see the reviews and realize Systane is the problem. Will stop using it and hope my eyes get better!!"