Which eye drops are best for tired eyes? A guide to finding the right relief

October 7, 2025 •

5 min read

According to the Mayo Clinic, a large percentage of adults experience symptoms of digital eye strain, a major cause of eye fatigue. Understanding which eye drops are best for tired eyes involves knowing the root cause of your discomfort, whether it's excessive screen time, environmental irritants, or underlying dry eye conditions.

Quick Summary

Eye fatigue is often a symptom of dryness or digital eye strain. The best eye drops for tired eyes are typically lubricating artificial tears, gel drops, or specific formulas for computer use. Choosing the correct product depends on your symptoms, severity, and frequency of use.

Key Points

Start with Artificial Tears: For mild, occasional eye fatigue, basic lubricating eye drops are often sufficient and readily available.
Choose Gels for Longer Relief: If your tiredness is more persistent, opt for gel drops, which offer longer-lasting lubrication but may cause temporary blurring.
Use Preservative-Free for Frequent Use: For sensitive eyes or those using drops more than four times daily, preservative-free formulas in single-use vials are recommended to avoid irritation.
Avoid Redness-Relieving Drops: Decongestant eye drops only mask redness and can cause rebound irritation with overuse; they do not treat the underlying cause of tired eyes.
Address Screen Time with Targeted Drops: Specific formulas like Refresh Digital PF are designed to combat dryness associated with prolonged computer and device use.
Consider Lipid-Based Formulas for Evaporative Dry Eye: If your tears are evaporating too quickly, a lipid-based drop like Refresh Optive MEGA-3 can help stabilize the tear film.
Combine Drops with Healthy Habits: Effective relief for tired eyes is best achieved by combining the right eye drops with lifestyle changes like using the 20-20-20 rule and adjusting your screen setup.

Understanding the Cause of Your Tired Eyes

Before choosing an eye drop, it is helpful to identify what is causing your eye fatigue. Tired eyes, medically known as asthenopia, is not a serious condition but can cause uncomfortable symptoms that interfere with your daily life. The root cause is often dry eye, which occurs when your tears evaporate too quickly or your eyes don't produce enough tears.

Common triggers for eye fatigue include:

Digital Eye Strain: Extended use of computers, smartphones, and other digital devices causes us to blink less frequently, which leads to dryness and fatigue.
Environmental Factors: Exposure to wind, smoke, dry indoor air (from heating or air conditioning), and allergens can irritate and dry out the eyes.
Inadequate Sleep: A lack of proper rest can leave eyes feeling heavy, puffy, and irritated.
Contact Lens Wear: Wearing contact lenses for long periods can exacerbate dryness, especially if not using lens-safe drops.

Types of Eye Drops for Tired Eyes

Not all eye drops are created equal. Different formulations offer varying levels of lubrication and duration of effect. Selecting the right type is key to finding effective relief.

Artificial Tears (Lubricating Eye Drops)

These are the most common type of over-the-counter (OTC) eye drops. They work by adding moisture to the surface of the eye to combat mild-to-moderate dryness and irritation. Artificial tears often contain ingredients like carboxymethylcellulose, polyethylene glycol, and glycerin to lubricate and soothe the eyes. They are a great starting point for occasional tired eyes, especially those resulting from screen use.

Gel Eye Drops and Ointments

For more persistent or severe dry eye symptoms, gel drops and ointments provide thicker, longer-lasting lubrication. Because of their viscosity, these formulations tend to provide relief for a more extended period but may cause temporary blurry vision after application. Gel drops are often recommended for moderate dry eye or after-hours use, while ointments are typically reserved for nighttime use to provide overnight hydration and protection.

Lipid-Based Drops

These specialized drops are designed to address evaporative dry eye, a condition where the outer oily layer of your tear film is deficient, causing tears to evaporate too quickly. Lipid-based drops contain ingredients like mineral oil or castor oil to supplement this oily layer and seal in moisture effectively. Brands like Systane Complete or Refresh Optive MEGA-3 are examples of lipid-enhanced drops.

Preservative-Free vs. Preserved Drops

This is an important distinction for frequent users or those with sensitive eyes. Preservatives are included in multi-dose bottles to prevent bacterial growth but can cause irritation over time, especially with frequent use. Preservative-free drops typically come in single-use vials and are recommended for those who use eye drops more than four times a day or have sensitive corneas.

Comparison of Popular Eye Drops for Tired Eyes


Product	Best For	Formulation	Pros	Cons
Refresh Tears	Mild to moderate dryness, general use	Basic artificial tears with carboxymethylcellulose	Widely available, gentle, budget-friendly	Shorter-acting, may require frequent re-application
Systane Ultra	All-day hydration, screen-related dryness	Polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol formula	Long-lasting relief, dual-layer protection, available preservative-free	Some find it slightly more expensive
Refresh Digital PF	Extended screen time	Mimics natural tears with a lightweight, preservative-free formula	Specifically formulated for digital eye strain, quick-acting	May not provide enough relief for chronic dryness
Blink GelTears	Moderate to severe dryness, extended relief	Gel formula that thickens upon contact with the eye	Longer-lasting relief than standard tears	May cause temporary blurring of vision
Refresh Optive MEGA-3 PF	Evaporative dry eye (lipid-layer deficiency)	Lipid-enhanced, preservative-free formula	Supports all three tear film layers, combats evaporation	Slightly more complex formula for targeted needs

What to Avoid: Redness-Relieving Eye Drops

Many people reach for decongestant eye drops, such as those with tetrahydrozoline or naphazoline, when their eyes are red and tired. While these drops constrict blood vessels to temporarily whiten the eyes, they do not address the underlying dryness or fatigue. Overuse can lead to a rebound effect, where redness returns and becomes even worse when you stop using them. For general eye fatigue, lubricating drops are a much safer and more effective option in the long term.

Lifestyle Changes to Combat Eye Fatigue

While eye drops provide relief, combining them with healthy habits can significantly improve eye comfort. Consider incorporating these practices into your daily routine:

Follow the 20-20-20 Rule: Every 20 minutes, look at an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This helps relax the focusing muscles of your eyes.
Adjust Your Workspace: Position your computer screen at arm's length, with the top of the screen at or just below eye level. Reduce glare by adjusting lighting and using an anti-glare screen.
Use a Humidifier: Especially in dry climates or during winter, a humidifier can add moisture to the air and help prevent your tears from evaporating too quickly.
Take Regular Breaks: In addition to the 20-20-20 rule, step away from your screen every couple of hours for a longer break to rest and stretch.
Ensure Proper Lighting: Avoid very bright or very dim lighting, which forces your eyes to work harder.
Drink More Water: Staying hydrated helps with tear production and overall eye moisture.
Get a Comprehensive Eye Exam: Ensure your glasses or contact lens prescription is up-to-date. An outdated prescription can contribute to eye strain.

Conclusion: Finding the Right Solution

Choosing the best eye drops for tired eyes is a personalized process that depends on the root cause and severity of your symptoms. For most people experiencing mild-to-moderate fatigue from screen time, basic lubricating artificial tears like Refresh or Systane Ultra are an excellent place to start. If your symptoms are more persistent, a thicker gel drop or a lipid-based formula might provide longer-lasting relief. For frequent users or those with sensitivity, preservative-free options are the safest choice. Remember to avoid redness-relieving drops for treating tired eyes, as they do not address the underlying issue. By combining the right eye drops with simple lifestyle adjustments, you can effectively soothe and prevent eye fatigue.

For additional preventative strategies and to better understand eye strain, visit the Mayo Clinic website.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary cause of tired eyes from computer use, or digital eye strain, is reduced blinking. When we focus intently on a screen, we blink less frequently, which leads to dryness and discomfort.

No, it is generally not recommended to use redness-relieving drops for tired eyes. These drops contain vasoconstrictors that temporarily shrink blood vessels but do not address the underlying issue of dryness or fatigue and can cause rebound redness with frequent use.

You should choose preservative-free eye drops if you have sensitive eyes or if you plan to use drops more than four times a day. Preservatives in multi-dose bottles can cause irritation with frequent use.

If you experience tired eyes that are primarily caused by your tears evaporating too quickly, a lipid-based drop may be beneficial. These drops help restore the oily layer of your tear film to prevent rapid evaporation.

The 20-20-20 rule suggests that every 20 minutes of screen time, you should look at an object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This simple practice helps to relax the muscles in your eyes and reduce strain.

Yes, wearing contact lenses can contribute to tired eyes by exacerbating dryness. It's important for contact lens wearers to use lens-safe drops and take breaks to keep their eyes lubricated.

If your symptoms of eye fatigue are persistent, worsening, or accompanied by other issues like pain, discharge, or changes in vision, you should consult an eye care professional.