What Are My Eye Drops Made Of?

Choosing the right eye drops for dry eyes, allergies, or irritation can be overwhelming, especially in Colorado’s dry climate. In this guide, Ken Kreidl, MD explains common ingredients and how to select the most effective option for your symptoms.

With so many over-the-counter options available at pharmacies and supermarkets, differences in ingredients, formulations, and product claims can make it difficult to know which drops are actually effective.

As discussed in my previous article, the safest and most effective first-line treatment for most eye irritation, including dry eyes, is lubricating eye drops, also known as artificial tears.

When selecting a product, it helps to understand the ingredients. Common active ingredients include polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, propylene glycol, carboxymethylcellulose, povidone, glycerin, and mineral oil, each designed to support tear function in different ways.

This guide is designed to help you better understand these ingredients so you can make informed choices. You may also find it helpful to review these options with your ophthalmologist to determine which products are best for your specific needs.

Ingredients in Lubricating Eye Drops

The most common eye drops I recommend, especially in Colorado’s dry climate, are lubricating drops, also known as artificial tears. These help restore moisture to the eye, similar to how lotion protects dry skin.

Below is a list of commonly used lubricating eye drops and their ingredients

Systane Ultra®

Active ingredients:  Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.4%, Propylene Glycol 0.3%

Inactive ingredients:  Aminomethyl propanol, boric acid, hydroxypropyl guar, POLYQUAD® (polyquaternium-1) 0.001% preservative, potassium chloride, purified water, sodium chloride, sorbitol. May contain hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide to adjust pH.

Systane®

Active ingredients: Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.4%, Propylene Glycol 0.3%

Inactive ingredients: Boric acid, calcium chloride, hydroxypropyl guar, magnesium chloride, polyquaternium-1 as a preservative, potassium chloride, purified water, sodium chloride, zinc chloride. May contain hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide to adjust pH.

Note: The primary difference between Systane Ultra® and Systane® is the addition of aminomethyl propanol, which helps neutralize acids.

Systane Balance®

Active ingredients: Propylene Glycol 0.6%

Inactive ingredients: Boric acid, dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol, edetate disodium, hydroxypropyl guar, mineral oil, polyoxyl 40 stearate, POLYQUAD® (polyquaternium-1) 0.001% preservative, sorbitol, purified water. May contain hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide to adjust pH.

Best for: Blepharitis, ocular rosacea, or meibomian gland dysfunction.

Blink Tears®

Active Ingredients:  Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.25%

Inactive Ingredients:  Boric acid, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, purified water, sodium borate, sodium chloride, sodium chlorite (OcuPure^® Brand) as a preservative; Sodium Hyaluronate.

Note: Contains similar active ingredients to Systane®..

Refresh Optive Advanced®

Active ingredients: Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium (0.5%), Glycerin (1%), Polysorbate 80 (0.5%)

Inactive ingredients: Boric acid, castor oil, erythritol, levocarnitine, carbomer copolymer type A, purified water, PURITE® preservative.

Refresh Optive®

Active Ingredients:  Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 0.5%, Glycerin 0.9%

Inactive Ingredients:  Boric acid; calcium chloride dihydrate; erythritol; levocarnitine; magnesium chloride hexahydrate; potassium chloride; purified water; PURITE^® (stabilized oxychloro complex); sodium borate decahydrate; and sodium citrate dihydrate.

Refresh Tears®

Active ingredients: Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 0.5%

Inactive ingredients: Boric acid, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, purified water, PURITE® preservative.

Note: Refresh Optive® adds glycerin, and Optive Advanced® adds polysorbate 80.

Soothe XP®

Active ingredients: Light mineral oil (1.0%), Mineral oil (4.5%)

Inactive ingredients: Boric acid, edetate disodium, octoxynol-40, polyquaternium-1 preservative, polysorbate 80, purified water, sodium borate.

Note: This emulsified drop may appear white and can cause brief blurred vision after use.

Retaine®

Active ingredients: Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 0.5%

Inactive ingredients: Calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, purified water, sodium chloride, sodium lactate.

Note: Similar to Refresh Tears®

Retaine MGD®

Active ingredients: Light mineral oil (0.5%), Mineral oil (0.5%)

Inactive ingredients: Cetalkonium chloride, glycerol, poloxamer 188, tris hydrochloride, tromethamine, tyloxapol, water for injection.

Best for: Blepharitis, ocular rosacea, or meibomian gland dysfunction.

Ingredients in “Redness Relief” Eye Drops

I do not recommend regularly using “gets-the-red-out” eye drops such as Visine®, Clear Eyes®, or Naphcon-A®.

These products contain ingredients like tetrahydrozoline or naphazoline, which constrict blood vessels in the eye. While they may temporarily reduce redness, they can worsen dry eye symptoms over time. With frequent use, they may also lead to rebound redness (rebound hyperemia), making symptoms more difficult to manage.

Clear Eyes®

Active ingredients: Naphazoline hydrochloride 0.012%, Glycerin 0.25%

Inactive ingredients: Benzalkonium chloride, boric acid, edetate disodium, purified water, sodium borate

Visine®

Active ingredients: Tetrahydrozoline HCl 0.05%

Inactive ingredients: Benzalkonium chloride, boric acid, edetate disodium, purified water, sodium borate, sodium chloride

Naphcon-A®

Active ingredients: Naphazoline hydrochloride 0.025%, Pheniramine maleate 0.3%

Inactive ingredients: Benzalkonium chloride, boric acid, edetate disodium, purified water, sodium borate, sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide, and/or hydrochloric acid

Which Eye Drop is Best for You?

Many lubricating eye drops are available over the counter, each with different formulations and ingredients. No single product works best for everyone.

I recommend trying a few different lubricating drops to determine which feels most comfortable and effective. When you speak with your ophthalmologist, be sure to share which drops you are using and how often you use them.

Let’s Talk

If you’re not sure which eye drop is right for you, or you’re not finding relief with the options you’ve tried, schedule an appointment with our ophthalmology team at Boulder Medical Center. We provide comprehensive eye care in Boulder, Louisville, and Longmont, Colorado to help you find the right solution for your symptoms.