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Eye Drops for very dry eyes. Recommendations

(60 Posts)
mumski Mon 02-Feb-26 18:51:56

I had an operation on my eye last year and now have very dry eyes.
Can anyone recommend eye drops which will help with this? I've been using off the shelf from for example Sainsburys and Morrisons, but they aren't very effective after a few minutes.
Thank you for any help.

Rocketstop2 Mon 02-Feb-26 18:56:05

Hi mumski
I use 'Add-tear' you can get them in chemists but also Amazon which is where I get them.You need to buy preservative free ones so they don't irritate your eyes.

marmar01 Mon 02-Feb-26 19:07:52

I am using hycosan eye drops. Really soothing and lasts more than a month after opening. Bought from boots

pably15 Mon 02-Feb-26 19:12:18

mumski my husband gets a tube of Carbommer eye gel on prescription fro gp he's been using it morning and night for a few years, it helps him.

Iam64 Mon 02-Feb-26 19:39:56

YourvGP will prescribe good day moisturiser drops and most importantly, night ointment

In addition, 3-4 times a day lie down with a warm wet flannel over yiur eyes
Yes, life long I’m afraid

paddyann54 Mon 02-Feb-26 19:47:45

I use Blink eye drops when my eyes are sore and a heated damp eye mask. before bed every night ,it’s plugged in and on a timer.The optician is very happy with how I manage my eyes are issue.It certainly hasn,t worsened in the 4 years since diagnosis

B9exchange Mon 02-Feb-26 20:01:20

Another user of Hycosan. Not cheap, but really works, just use twice a day

westendgirl Mon 02-Feb-26 20:11:37

Another user of Hycosan, recommended by the the pep[le at my eye centre.

Elegran Mon 02-Feb-26 21:44:44

Mine used to get very dry at night and sometimes would be stuck down in the morning. Xailin ointment every night made a big difference. It is mostly vaseline and lanolin. I bought it on Amazon.

nanna8 Mon 02-Feb-26 21:46:58

I must try the heated mask, my optician recommended it but I have never got round to it.

Bigred18 Tue 03-Feb-26 06:40:57

I have an eye mask that heats up in microwave. I also have just bought a rechargeable mask for when I travel soon. Nanna8, you can buy disposable Aero masks on line in Australia, they are convenient for travel also. Heat is wonderful for dry eyes.

argymargy Tue 03-Feb-26 07:57:58

Hycosan - but nothing less than the Intense strength (red one).

NanKate Tue 03-Feb-26 08:17:29

Hycosan intense for me too. Very expensive so I buy them from Boots and if you buy two at a time the second is half price. The full price is about £17+ 😳

Flippinheck Tue 03-Feb-26 09:48:36

Hyoscan for me too but they are very expensive. My optician suggested dry eyes can be a symptom of thyroid issues so perhaps ask you GP to arrange a blood test for that.

Elusivebutterfly Tue 03-Feb-26 11:47:52

I was recommended Hycosan by the optician but have found any cheap brand from supermarket or Amazon works as well. I use them 3 times daily.
I asked the GP if I could have something on prescription but it is not on the list of medication that can be prescribed in this area.

1summer Tue 03-Feb-26 11:57:08

HycoSan for me aswell, as recommended by my optician. But I use the dual one ( purple) as my eyes are very itchy.

Blossoming Tue 03-Feb-26 12:04:34

I use Thealoz Duo, recommended by my ophthalmologist and available from several places including Amazon. Make sure any you buy are preservative free as this can damage your eyes. Optrex contain preservatives.

Fallingstar Tue 03-Feb-26 12:29:40

My DH gets Carbommer eye gel drops on prescription.
If you have very dry eyes perhaps your GP can prescribe or if you attend an eye clinic a doctor there will prescribe it, not sure if you can get it over the counter.

Basgetti Tue 03-Feb-26 13:58:55

The optician at Boots prescribed an eye gel for my very dry eye condition and has requested that the GP takes it on. So sorry, can’t recall the name atm but your optician will know.

mumski Tue 03-Feb-26 13:59:11

Thank you everyone for you recommendations. I've ordered some Hycosan Intense. Hopefully that will really help.

Autumncolours Tue 03-Feb-26 14:02:02

I use Hycosan Extra (red bottle) recommended by my optician as you can use them with contact lenses. I also use wipes for blepharitis which helps.

Freya5 Tue 03-Feb-26 15:27:38

Fallingstar

My DH gets Carbommer eye gel drops on prescription.
If you have very dry eyes perhaps your GP can prescribe or if you attend an eye clinic a doctor there will prescribe it, not sure if you can get it over the counter.

I use that too, night and morning, hycosan during the day. Carbomer gel is available from Amazon, 8.20 for 3 tube. I found it there when my pharmacy couldn't get it.

watermeadow Tue 03-Feb-26 20:20:52

The dry eyes specialist at my opticians told me that supermarket eye drops are not the best (ie useless) She told me to use Hycosan in the red box as often as needed, plus to take flaxseed oil and vitamin B12 and to drink more and eat walnuts.
Following this advice made a dramatic improvement to my eyes.

NotaGrannie Tue 03-Feb-26 20:25:48

Another Hycosan Intense user. Used to use Hycosan Intense but needed more lubrication and progressed to Intense.

Have bought multiple packs when at good price on ebay.

DollyRocker Tue 03-Feb-26 21:49:19

I have Sjogrens disease so they're a necessity. I use Hylo nite and Hyco-san extra on prescription but they are fairly cheap on eBay.