5.0 out of 5 stars Post PRK Eyedrop Review Series

T. · July 7, 2023

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } This is a combination review of a handful of preservative free eye drops. This is by no means extensive nor thorough. There are many others on the market that I have yet to try, but these were the ones I believed to be most relevant to my needs, which consist of relief after PRK surgery.Drops reviewed:Refresh Relieva for contactsSystane Gel DropsSystane Hydration PFBiotrueSystane Ultra PFOasis Tears PlusI will cross post this on each of the other drops' pages. I will review the drops based on relief, perceived longevity, consistency, ease of use, and relevant features. At the time of this review, I am at exactly one month post surgery. I will be rating each of these drops 5 stars on their relevant pages because they all do exactly what they're designed to do and don't have any glaring issues that warrants fewer than 5 stars. The in-post reviews are relevant to comparing between these drops.Refresh Relieva (5 stars):These drops are fantastic. I find that I want to reach for these the most often when I'm looking for good eye lubrication. These drops spread over my eye very quickly without feeling like they stick to the edges of my eyes or eyelashes. Out of all the drops other than the gel, these drops feel like they last the longest in between drops. I use this the least often and find great relief for about half an hour before I want to use them again. These drops feel less slimy than the other drops except for Biotrue. Out of all of the other bottles, it's the most traditional dropper and easiest to use, but due to the design, it may be most susceptible to contaminants and early expiration. It's the only bottle that I'm able to fit my nanodropper onto and that will potentially mitigate the potential contamination and as a result, will prevent early expiration as well as extend the number of drops due to the smaller drops the nanodropper creates. Overall, these are my favorites drops.Systane Gel (3 stars):Out of all of the drops, I reach for these least often. I thought I might try them to see if they last longer and provide the longest lasting relief. If that's what you're looking for, these drops are great, except there are drawbacks that cause me to not use them. They're sticky. If I fall asleep with them in, my eyelids get a little glued together and I sometimes have to pick the gel out of my eyelashes and that can be very uncomfortable. They provide a great deal of relief for the longest period of time and that's the saving grace for these drops, but I'd rather not deal with the slime I get all over my face when I inevitably rub my eyes due to the uncomfortable residue that sits on the edges of my eyes and eyelashes. This dropper is very easy to use and on par with the Refresh dropper. I have no complaints about the amount it drops and the ease of use.Systane Hydration (5 stars):These drops are a very close second to Refresh overall. The relief is only noticeably less than Refresh because the Refresh feels so good. These are exactly what I would expect from a high quality drop and would not be disappointed if these were the only drops available to me. They last about 20-30 minutes and are easy to use. The consistency of these drops is pretty thin. They're only ever so slightly thicker than Biotrue, Ultra, and Refresh. The dropper produces a slight bit of waste if you don't stop squeezing at the right moment but is otherwise very easy to use. Overall, my second favorite drops to use.Biotrue (4 stars):The relief that these drops provide are comparable to Refresh except they don't last as long. I end up having to use these fairly frequently because they don't last very long. I've been using these drops just to get through the bottle. These drops just feel slightly inferior to Systane Hydration in almost every aspect. They go on very nicely and don't stick to my eyelashes or the edges of my eyes as much as Systane, but they don't last as long, provide comparable relief, and the bottle is far more difficult to use. The consistency is the thinnest out of all these drops. This bottle has a special technology that requires a great deal of force to squeeze out a drop. Despite that, the bottle creates a significant amount of waste no matter how you squeeze it, and you have to squeeze it pretty hard. This bottle is my least favorite to use even if the drops are pretty decent. Overall, these are my second to last choice only beating the gels.Systane Ultra PF (5 stars):I think that if I had gotten these in a bottle, they'd be my second favorite to use. They're my go-to for when I'm on the go and need portable drops. They provide a great deal of relief and give about 30 minutes of lubrication. I almost always grab a few of these if I'm going to be out of the house for an extended period of time. The consistency is thin and far less slimy than Hydration. I find that they coat my eye very well and don't stick to my eyelashes and the edges of my eyes. My only issue with these is that they create a significant amount of waste compared to the bottles. I also end up dropping them or losing them when they drop out of my pockets, but they serve a purpose. There's always some product that gets stuck in the twist off cap, so that's a problem too. They're great for transport though, and if I had a bottle, I'd probably prefer it over Hydration. Overall, I really like these drops but I feel bad about the waste.Oasis Tears Plus (3 stars):I feel like these drops are the standard for high quality drops. They provide a fair amount of relief, they last a fair amount of time (roughly 20 minutes), and they're the second most thick drops only less thick than the gel. I don't think I'd get these drops again with these other options. I don't dislike them, but they just don't provide the same amount of relief and longevity as some of the other options. It's also smaller than the Ultra so I get fewer drops out of them. They seem to be smaller so they produce less waste, but not by much. They're very easy to use, but all of these disposable drops produce waste of materials and some product gets stuck in the twist cap, so there's always waste there as well. The Ultra is no different. Overall, I'd probably never use these unless they serve a particular purpose that I'm unaware of.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wprth the money

k. · June 6, 2025

I suffere from dry eye and this was one of two artifical tears recommended to me by my ophthalmologist. And of the two brands, this is the one I have stuck with. The bottle normally lasts me 3 to 4 weeks depending on how dry my eyes are. But is it also very close to natural tears and helps with the dry eye symptoms. Most people do not realize the important role of tears in their eye health until it is too late.

4.0 out of 5 stars Works really well BUT hard to control drops

S. · May 16, 2025

The media could not be loaded. Works great!! It's just I find that the bottle being as squishy as it is makes it difficult to control how many drops goes into my eyes, thus wasting quite a bit of it. Maybe there's a learning curve, because this is the first kind of this drop I've used, but not the first of any drops, and this is hard to control. It's like no drops or several all at once. I've gone through half a bottle and I don't feel like I should've in the time I've been using this.As far as how well it works, it works! This is the first kind I've tried, but my eyes feel better and it even whitens the whites of my eyes. I didn't know they were always more red than they should've been because they were dry, so I used the expensive Lumify. This works close to as well as Lumify but I'm not sure if it works for as long - I'll have to pay attention.I hope so because I won't need Lumify anymore for $20+ and can just use my own already-needed medication for white eyes.5 stars for how well it works (as far as I can tell with it being the first I've tried), and3 stars (if that) for how well the bottle controls the drops, so I give it 4 stars.

5.0 out of 5 stars Biotrue Dry Eye Drops

A.T.C. · June 11, 2025

Biotrue Dry Eye Drops is an excellent option for those looking for a reliable, comfortable and effective solution to relieve dry eyes. Its combination of advanced hydration, safety for use with contact lenses and eye-friendly formula make it one of the best alternatives within the eye lubricants market

5.0 out of 5 stars Relieves itchy and dry eyes

E. · June 17, 2025

Love it and doesn't irritate/hurt my eyes when applying. I bring it everywhere with me so good for travel too! But it's harder to aim correctly with this bottle.

3.0 out of 5 stars Difficult Packaging Design Overshadows Everything...

c. · June 1, 2025

The eyedrops themselves, when you can get the solution into your eye, are great - however - if you're purchasing these eyedrops for someone with hand weakness, tremors, mobility issues in general - I (unfortunately) do not recommend buying this. :(1. It's NOT like the standard Visine style delivery system where you barely squeeze the bottle and you've got drops everywhere (and one or two are guaranteed to hit the target). You must REALLY SQUEEZE HARD before even one drop comes out.2. While you very firmly squeeze the bottle for quite a few seconds until a drop is released - if you have unsteady hands, and can't stand with head tilted back for more than 5-10 seconds, this will be difficult for you.3. The cap does NOT "lock" on - you cannot tell if the cap is secure.. If you're going to put these drops in your purse, be sure to put them in a ziplock baggie to avoid the probability that the cap will come off if the bottle is loosely in a side pocket, etc.The drops are nice - they are soothing & seem to work ok. But the package design is so awful, I'm on Bolo today trying to find another similar product with an easier-to-use dispensing bottle. Bummer.

5.0 out of 5 stars The eye drops with a difference

d. · June 8, 2025

The Hyaluronic Acid in these drops are quite cooling and soothing, more so than regular saline drops. They are now my go to drops and having the small vials helps insure my drops are always sterile and fresh for use. Highly recommend.

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely recommend

C. · June 14, 2025

These are some of the best eyedrops I have ever used for dry eyes. Now my entire family uses them because of how well they actually work.