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Systane and Light Sensitivity: What Users Say

Light sensitivity: mentioned by 6 users (5.4%)

Based on user experiences from 112 Systane 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 26.8%
burning 17.0%
itching 14.3%
vision issues 9.8%
swelling 8.9%
headaches 5.4%
light sensitivity 5.4%
stinging 5.4%
dry eyes 4.5%
eye pain 4.5%

Reviews for Systane

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Min...
  • August 27, 2020

For Dry Eye Disease "I had a PRK vision correction surgery 6 months ago. My doctor recommended Systane and gave the individual package samples. I was fine with and, a couple of months ago, I bought the Systane lubricant long-lasting. Recently, I started seeing streaks of lights like lightning on my left eye floaters. I am also having sensitivity to light. I went back to my doctor and he couldn’t see anything wrong but sent to a retina specialist who told me he sees bubble liquid but nothing else wrong with my eye. I came to read the reviews tonight and I was shocked to see someone has experienced the same symptoms. I am going to stop using it immediately and I hope the floaters and lighting will clear. Not to I have been dizzy. I will write back in a week."

1 / 10
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96 Report
  • 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."

1 / 10
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29 Report
  • Jen...
  • September 23, 2015

For Eye Redness "Was prescribed this for dry eyes by optometrist, told to use twice daily. Ever since 1st use, eyes stung and got extremely red, vision got worse, blurry vision, redness, itchy, and sensitivity to light. Did not realize it was this until I stopped use. Was told to use every 2 hours, and vision was getting worse. This product did not work for me."

1 / 10
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37 Report
  • PJa...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 25, 2018

"In preparation for cataract surgery, my ophthalmologist told me to use Systane four times a day. After the first eye was done, I was also told to use it in the operated eye for irritation as needed. So now after repeated use and both eyes getting worse and worse in terms of dryness, irritation, and light sensitivity, I finally had the DUH moment and figured out the Systane was making my eyes miserable. It's now been about 19 hours since I stopped the drops, and both eyes are SO, SO much improved. Maybe this stuff is okay for an occasional dose, but most certainly not repeatedly."

1 / 10
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20 Report
  • Ric...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 23, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "My eye doctor prescribed Systane for dry eye. I started using the product right after my exam, once a day, and since then I had issues with my eyes. Some kind of dizziness, sensitivity to light, and some eventual blurry vision and pain in the back of my eyes, it came and went. I went back to the doctor after one week to check what was going on, as I did not present any of those symptoms before the eye exam. The eye doctor said that I was not using the drops enough times a day. So, I used them more. But I started noticing that weird sensation in my eyes after I used them, like very heavy eyes that would last for hours. So I started to decrease the use of the drops, and my eyes seemed to be getting better, but I still have the heaviness that comes from time to time. So I started to research because I have been dealing with this for almost a month, and by reading these reviews, I am almost sure it is the drops. I am not using them anymore. Thank God it was not such a long time."

1 / 10
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7 Report
  • dli...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • January 22, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "I was using Systane Ultra and Complete as recommended by my eye specialist. I also use Azopt and Lumigan drops for glaucoma. I had been using the glaucoma drops for at least 2 years without problems. Shortly after starting to use the Systane, it became very uncomfortable installing the Azopt and Lumigan drops. After approx. a couple of months of Systane use, I decided to try to figure out why my eyes had become so sensitive to light and why it hurt so much when installing my glaucoma drops. I stopped the use of Systane, and after a couple of days or so, no more eye stinging or sensitivity to light. Not everyone will have my same problems, but just giving Systane users a heads up.....Don Little"

1 / 10
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8 Report

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