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Ocular lubricant ophthalmic and Headaches: What Users Say

Brand names: Systane, Artificial Tears, Refresh Tears, Lubricant Eye Drops, Refresh, Systane Ultra, Refresh Plus, Refresh Optive Mega-3, Avenova, Systane Complete, Systane Balance, Refresh Optive, Blink Gel Tears, Dry Eye Relief, Refresh PM, Refresh Liquigel, TheraTears, Lacrisert, Natural Balance Tears, Blink Tears, Systane Hydration PF, Oasis Tears, Stye Sterile Lubricant, optive, Soothe XP, Clear Eyes Contact Lens Multi-Action Relief, Systane Ultra Preservative Free, Isopto Tears, retaine PM, Ultra Lubricating Eye Drops, Refresh Celluvisc, Bion Tears, Aquasite Artificial Tears, GenTeal, Lubrifresh PM, Clear Eyes Natural Tears Lubricating, Alcon Tears, GenTeal Tears Night-Time, Systane Nighttime, Refresh Optive Advanced, GenTeal Tears Moderate, Celluvisc, Hypotears, Tears Naturale, Hypotears P/F, Regener-Eyes Lite, Visine Tears, Refresh Digital, Refresh Relieva, Opti-Free Pure Moist Rewetting Drops, Puralube Tears, Refresh Classic, Clear Eyes Outdoor Dry, Advanced Eye Relief Dry Eye, Lacri-Lube S.O.P., Artelac Nighttime, Tears Again, Blink Contacts, Blink-N-Clean, ImproVue, Refresh Repair, Rohto Dry-Aid, Soothe Night Time, Sterile Lubricating Tears, GenTeal Twin Pack, Refresh Lacri-Lube, Viva-Drops, Visine Tired Eye Relief, Visine Tears Long Lasting, GenTeal Tears Severe, Duratears Naturale, Adsorbotear, Akwa Tears, Aquasite, Artificial Tears Plus, Comfort Tears, Natures Tears, Tears Naturale II, Puralube, Liquitears, Moisture Drops, 20/20 Tears, Duolube, Hypotonic Tears, Twenty Twenty, Blairex Just Tears, Systane Overnight Therapy, Opti-Free Rewetting Drops, Tears Naturale PM, Hypotears Select, Tears Naturale Forte, TheraTears Contact Lens, Oasis Tears Plus, TheraTears Liquid Gel, GenTeal Mild Visine for Contacts Ultra Fresh For Sty Relief Ultra Fresh PM Altalube Moisture Eyes PM Soothe Refresh Contacts GenTeal PM FreshKote GenTeal PF Refresh Endura Moisture Eyes Visine Pure Tears Lubricant Eye Ointment Refresh Digital PF Refresh Relieva PF optive Sensitive …show all brand names

Headaches: mentioned by 13 users (4.1%)

Based on user experiences from 315 Ocular lubricant ophthalmic reviews, the following table shows the most commonly mentioned side effects.

All user comments are moderated by Drugs.com. Each review is verified for relevance and screened for inappropriate content. Side effects are user-reported and not clinically verified.

blurred vision 15.6%
burning 13.7%
itching 10.8%
swelling 8.6%
redness 6.3%
pain 6.0%
vision issues 5.1%
headaches 4.1%
stinging 4.1%
irritation 3.5%

Reviews for Ocular lubricant ophthalmic

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Dal...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 23, 2020

For Dry Eye Disease "I have recently started using this to help with eye lubrication from mild dry eye. I have used Refresh in the past & recommended this too many patients over the years. This product (Systane) has made my eyes burn TERRIBLY! This has led to blurry vision & headache. I will not be using this & cannot in good conscience (based on my own & many others' experiences) recommend this to anyone else either."

1 / 10
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86 Report
  • wob...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • July 18, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "I've been on these eye drops since 2014 when Hypo Tears went off the market. My dry eyes were never really helped by Systane, and I found out recently that they're a big cause of my frequent migraines. I didn't connect the Systane to my headaches until my mom mentioned she was getting bad headaches after using Systane. I stopped them for a few days, and the migraines dropped considerably. I've since switched to a no-name generic eye drop I found at Walmart and haven't had any issues at all with it. Wish I'd made the connection between the Systane and my migraines before now because it's been five long years of pain for me."

1 / 10
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69 Report
  • Adi...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 30, 2019

"I suffer from repetitive corneal erosion, used Systane drops and gel just before bed in my right eye only, as recommended by my optometrist. I started noticing I was getting headaches that required pain relief. What concerned me most was a throbbing down the side of my head. My eye sockets ached, vision became more blurred, and the floaters were far worse. I stopped the product after 3 days and will never use it again after reading the other reviews. I was interested to see that it caused migraines in other people."

1 / 10
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38 Report
  • Adi...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 30, 2019

"I suffer from repetitive corneal erosion, used Systane drops and gel just before bed in my right eye only, as recommended by my optometrist. I started noticing I was getting headaches that required pain relief. What concerned me most was a throbbing down the side of my head. My eye sockets ached, vision became more blurred, and the floaters were far worse. I stopped the product after 3 days and will never use it again after reading the other reviews. I was interested to see that it caused migraines in other people."

1 / 10
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38 Report
  • Pop...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • July 22, 2013

For Eye Redness "I have used Systane for about 9 weeks and have been experiencing severe swelling and irritation of my eyelids, including splitting of the skin and drying out of the sore areas. Have narrowed down the cause as Systane, and not blepharitis."

4 / 10
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45 Report

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  • Asg...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 20, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "I notice this week my eyes were dry, I placed 2 eye drops of Systane Ultra High Performing Dry Eye Relief in each of my eyes. Within minutes, the back right side of my head began to hurt and throb. I knew this eye drop caused the pain. I read about the main ingredient polyethylene glycol 400 0.4 can cause head pain."

1 / 10
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8 Report
  • Mat...
  • October 17, 2016

"I was advised to use the Systane Ultra by my optometrist, but the irritation it caused and splitting and crusting of the skin around my eyes has been unbearable. The skin around my eyes is itchy and crusty and splitting at the corners. My vision is blurred and worse for using it. It will take a few days to settle down, it seems, but I won't be using it again!"

1 / 10
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11 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 12, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "Tried this brand (Oasis Tears Plus) as an alternate to my current dry eye medication. Shortly after inserting the drops in both eyes, I experienced some eye pressure pain, irritation, redness, and itching in both eyes, which shortly thereafter turned into a fairly prolonged headache. I tried these drops again the next day to see if these reactions persisted, and I had the same type of reaction all over again. I didn't have any of these adverse reactions with my other brand dry eye drops, so I quit using these Oasis drops immediately. Primary ingredient is glycerin, but the incipient ingredients are questionable. Do not recommend if you have drug sensitivities or allergies."

1 / 10
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9 Report
  • Jka...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 9, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "Dr. told me to use this 2 times a day for dry eyes every 12 hrs. 1st day it seemed to help, had a bad headache. 2nd and 3rd day, by 4th day my right eye hurt and was so irritated, and my eyes were so blurry after reading these reviews. I stopped the Systane. My eyes are still bothering me, but I’m 100% sure my eyes are more blurry and irritated than they were. These drops might help some people, but I wish I would have never used them."

1 / 10
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8 Report
  • Jen...
  • September 25, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "Almost from the beginning, my eyes felt better for a few days, but on the third day, I noticed my eyes stayed swollen, red, began to have headaches, crust around my eyes, and now I can’t see as well, so I have to have stronger eyeglasses. Also, I noticed the outer rim around my iris continues to thicken. These drops are horrible, and I do not recommend them to anyone, and they should be taken off the market."

1 / 10
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6 Report
  • 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."

1 / 10
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4 Report
  • Lor...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 13, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "Prescribed for red, dry, irritated eyes. Been using as prescribed, disappointed with results-blurred vision and slight headache. Found that it had crystallized in the corner of my eye. Not going to use them from here on, very expensive, normal saline would do."

2 / 10
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5 Report
  • klm...
  • July 16, 2020

For Dry Eye Disease "These drops used 3x per day for 2 days caused headaches that last and don't go away, a low-grade dull headache behind the eyes. I will discontinue use and plan to use coconut oil from now on."

1 / 10
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1 Report

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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.