Ocular lubricant ophthalmic and Pain: What Users Say

• Cal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 21, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "I went to purchase Refresh Tears (I have been using them for 9 years) and discovered the store was no longer carrying them. I purchased Systane Ultra and used it that evening. I then continued to use it twice a day. On the third day, my right eye was irritated, and my large floater was more irritated and painful. I put in the drops several times that day, but to no avail. I consider the product harmful to my eye and a waste of my money."

• 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!"

• msk...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 16, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "I found out I had dry eyes from my optometrist a few years ago when she recommended Refresh Optive and Refresh PM ointment. Had good success with both. When I finally went to an ophthalmologist, he suggested Restasis, so I have been using both drops for a couple of years now and am very pleased with how my eyes feel. I had to stop using the ointment when it clogged a duct, and my eye hurt and got red."

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "My eyes occasionally become dry. I have used many brands of eye drops over the years. I recently purchased Refresh Tears Lubricant Eye Drops (because of a good price). As soon as I put a drop in each eye, my eyes immediately became very red and painfully sore. I have never had such an effect with other brands of eye drops, including Equate."

• fuc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "Good Lord. How can you market a product to cure dry eyes, which does the complete opposite? Isn't that fraud? The makers of this stuff better watch out for a class action lawsuit because this stuff is awful, and the company is guilty of false advertising. Have used for only one day, and my eyes are getting worse by the minute. They feel dry, sticky, and sore. Not the least bit moisturized! Just decided to discontinue."

• 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."

• 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."

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 23, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "3rd day of Oasis PF Tears for dry eye. Dr. gave me 2 packages of samples. 10 vials. 3rd day of using and no relief. Luckily, I did not buy this. $25 is a lot of money for a product that is not working and making me hurt more. I have been using Oasis on my left eye and another brand on my right eye. The cheaper other brand has improved my right dry eye. Oasis, nothing."

• ekl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 15, 2014

For Eye Redness "My eyes are painful if I open them too quickly. Sometimes, even when just blinking, they stick closed. The Lacriserts are a godsend. The only major drawback (well, minor in relation to the benefits) is that I have to remove the inserts within 10 hours or they become like glue and actually add to the pain. But during the 10 hours, it's like a miracle!"

• Bir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 30, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "I started taking Systane Ultra for dry eye, and my eyes got so red and irritated, I had to quit using it. My vision became very blurry and my eyes both really hurt. I am convinced it was preservatives in them that caused my problem. I will never use these again. I hope my eyes get better soon."

• Cha...
• January 17, 2017

"I used Lacrisert 3 times, and on the third and final use, I experienced an extreme adverse reaction that has caused blurred vision that has never improved. The pain and vision loss were so bad I was seen in the emergency room triage. The nurse stated, 'This drug has messed your eyes up.' I was given two injections to counteract the drug and one for pain. I now live with one eye that will not open completely, near-constant blurred vision to the point I am unable to do anything for up to 10 hours at times. My right eye wanders around independent of the left eye. An opaque film almost constantly until I can clear it with preservative-free over-the-counter eye drops. This is an incredibly expensive way, but the only way to gain any relief."

• LBa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 1, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "Eyes felt dry in the morning. Used a brand new box/bottle (still well in date). Eyes became painfully red/sore. After two hours, still the same. I have used several brands of eye drops before, but never with this result."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 19, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "I have used Oasis drops for only 1 week, and my eyelids are swollen and painful, as if I have a stye on my upper lid. I've stopped using them and hope this painful situation resolves quickly and that I don't need to see a physician. This product should be pulled off the market."

• avi...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 18, 2016

For Eye Redness "I have tried everything to help with my dry eyes. Lacriserts have helped me so much! I was putting eye drops in my eyes 100 times a day, and they still were so painful and dry. I had light sensitivity and terrible pain. After using these, I hardly ever have to use eye drops anymore. My light sensitivity is gone, and I feel about 90% better and more normal. I do find that towards the end of the day I may have to remove them because they get a little globby and can smear my vision, but a small trade-off for feeling so much better."

• Pa2...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 18, 2017

"I was asked to use these drops one month before cataract surgery. After 10 days or less (not sure of the exact timeframe), I wanted to take my eyeball out of my eye socket. I was in a lot of pain in that eye and wanted to just keep my eye shut. I called my eye doctor to let them know I could not use this eye drop and explained my symptoms to an assistant. She told me to use hot compresses and to use another eye drop prior to surgery. I told her I must be allergic to this eye drop. She did not agree. I did not use any more eye drops until 7 days prior to surgery."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2023

For Dry Eye Disease "Toxic product. I was prescribed these eye drops. They cause calcific eyelid discharge, increased sensitivity to light, stinging, and pain, and they seem to offer no improvement."

• Bad...
• October 15, 2010

For Eye Redness "FreshKote is the only dry eye medication that actually helped in any capacity. I get terrible eye pain, and this is the only medication that didn't cause more pain."

• K R...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 22, 2015

For Eye Redness "Spent over 2 years trying to find eye drops that I did not have a negative reaction to, and at last, these drops did the job without pain or redness."

• Shy...
• July 25, 2021

"I took it because my eyes were red and dry, but now my eyes are painful, like there is sand inside. It’s worse now, and that worries me. I don’t recommend it at all. Didn’t work for me."