Systane and Vision Issues: What Users Say

• Stu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2020

For Dry Eye Disease "I started using these Systane drops a few months ago. I have since stopped because they have damaged my eyes with stinging, floaters, and terrible dulled vision. I hope this will warn people not to use them, and I hope the FDA will do a complete study on them."

• Kar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 9, 2023

For Dry Eye Disease "When I started using Systane Complete PF, 1 drop twice a day for cornea dryness, my eyes felt “gummy.” About a month later, I started having brief dizzy spells that evolved into episodes of vertigo with double vision, “ratcheting” movements of things on the wall in the room, nausea, brain fog, and blood pressure dropped, diaphoretic, some lasting as long as 10 minutes. I could not stand or walk without help. Went to urgent care, and the doctor thought I was having a TIA (small stroke) and sent me to get a CAT Scan of the brain, which was negative. I told the doctor that I was using eye drops, but he dismissed this. Put me on meclizine. I was putting my eye drops in that night, my husband asked if eye drops could cause my dizziness. I started looking up information about Systane and found some positive results, but so many negative, and many had symptoms very similar to what I was having. I stopped the drops 5 days ago, the dizziness is less, still on meds. I reported this to the FDA. Encourage anyone who has this to do the same!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 18, 2018

For Dry Eye Disease "My eye doctor gave me Systane drops to use for dry eye. About two weeks later, my vision became very blurry, and when I looked at anything digital, it was double and triple vision. After a complete eye exam, it was determined my retina and optic nerve were fine. The only thing he could come up with was at a microscopic level, the cells of the cornea might be having some inflammation. In the meantime, I switched to Refresh Tears. About three months later, my blurriness was getting somewhat better. I went out of town and forgot my eye drops. My friend had her Systane drops with her, (I still hadn't connected the dots yet), so I used them. The following week, my blurry vision was back just as bad as it originally had been! There is no doubt that it is caused by the Systane product."

• 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."

• 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."

• Deb...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 10, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "So glad I found this site. I have had dry eyes for years. I used different kinds of eye drops, but mostly Systane Ultra and gel. Three months ago, I had YAG laser treatment for post-cataract surgery. Ever since then, I had cloudy vision due to floaters. One month ago, we moved, and I only had the Systane Ultra on hand, not the gel. So I just used Ultra. The floaters started clearing up. Three days ago, I bought the gel and started using it. Now the floaters are back. I am going to trash all the Systane bottles and find something that won't affect my vision."

• Deb...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 10, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "So glad I found this site. I have had dry eyes for years. I used different kinds of eye drops, but mostly Systane Ultra and gel. Three months ago, I had YAG laser treatment for post-cataract surgery. Ever since then, I had cloudy vision due to floaters. One month ago, we moved, and I only had the Systane Ultra on hand, not the gel. So I just used Ultra. The floaters started clearing up. Three days ago, I bought the gel and started using it. Now the floaters are back. I am going to trash all the Systane bottles and find something that won't affect my vision."

• Ski...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 11, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "I had some chemical go into my eyes on 18th December. The only symptom was some white discharge. I was put on Moxigram LX and Systane Ultra. Since 6th January, I have been seeing floaters and flashes. I went and got my eye retina checked and got to know that the vitreous fluid is sticking very tightly to the back of the eye, and I may get a retinal tear when it separates. I feel my vitreous fluid has changed its properties due to Systane Ultra, as I have started seeing flashes and floaters only recently (6th Jan). I may be wrong. I can't say. I have stopped Systane Ultra today. Will report back and tell you all if my symptoms stop."

• 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."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "After a period of Dr. appointments for red, sore eyes, I was given Systane. At first, I thought they were amazing but a bit sticky. Then, I wondered why my eyes felt like they were turning in or twitching. Today, I had to cancel my plans because it was like I had double vision. I realized it started about the same time as the drops and checked here. I must never use again!"

• ann...
• October 5, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "I used this as ordered by my eye doctor. A few weeks later, I noticed eye pain, swelling, matted eyelashes, blurred vision, and foggy vision. It took weeks of going off the drops to correct my vision."