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What Are Saline Eye Drops?

Rebecca Harkin
Rebecca Harkin

Plain saline eye drops are available over the counter and can be used to moisten dry eyes or to wash irritants or small particles from the eyes. Medications, such as antihistamines, drugs to control intraocular eye pressure, pain relievers, steroids, and antibiotics can also be added to a saline-based eye drop. These medications are used to treat allergic reactions, glaucoma, eye injuries, and infections. Eye drops are usually administered using a dropper bottle which can deliver one or two drops in each eye.

Over-the-counter eye drops that contain just saline are most often used to lubricate dry eyes associated with contact lens use, allergies, or eye strain and fatigue caused by overuse of the eyes. In each of these situations, eye drops help to re-wet the eye when it has difficulty producing enough lubrication. These drops relieve eye discomfort or improve vision. In situations where dry eye is severe, an additional lubricating agent may be added to the drops to increase the viscosity of the solution and help it cling to the eye and last longer.

Saline eye drops are available over the counter and can be used to treat red or dry eyes.
Saline eye drops are available over the counter and can be used to treat red or dry eyes.

Medications used in the eye are added to saline solutions for several reasons. The chemistry of saline-based eye drops can be matched closely to the aqueous environment of the eye so that delivery of the medication does not disrupt the balance of the eye and cause further damage or irritation. In addition, adding medications to saline drops allows manufacturers to easily control the concentration of the medication.

Someone with eye strain might benefit from using saline eye drops.
Someone with eye strain might benefit from using saline eye drops.

Some of the most common medications added to eye drops are antihistamines, topical pain relievers, steroids, and antibiotics. Antihistamines are added to eye drops to prevent the itchiness and irritation associated with allergies. Saline eye drops that contain a topical pain reliever are usually used to reduce the pain associated with an eye infection, abrasion, or burn. Steroids eye drops are used to reduce eye swelling associated with a bad allergic reaction, infection, or eye injury. Antibiotic eye drops are used to treat eye infections.

When using eye drops, ensure that the tip never comes into contact with the eye itself.
When using eye drops, ensure that the tip never comes into contact with the eye itself.

Glaucoma is a disease in which the intraocular pressure inside the eye increases, placing pressure on and potentially damaging the optic nerve which shunts visual information to the brain. There are several groups of drugs, such as beta receptor blockers, that are added to eye drops to help lower the intraocular pressure. Use of these types of eye drops can prevent the eye damage and the potential blindness that can result from glaucoma.

Saline eye drops are used to moisten dry eyes.
Saline eye drops are used to moisten dry eyes.

When administering saline eye drops, the patient should wash his hands and then shake the bottle to mix the contents. The lower eye lid should be gently extended with a finger and the appropriate number of drops placed directly in the eye without allowing the bottle to touch the eye. Once the drops are in the eye, the patient should close his eyes for a few minutes.

Discussion Comments

Cageybird

During the summer, I practically live on saline eyedrops with antihistamines. Since I moved to this part of the country, just about everything triggers my allergies or hay fever. Those medicated eye drops help wash out the pollen and then treat the inflammation.

I keep a separate bottle of non-medicated saline eye drops for times when I just want to rinse off my eyes after being outside for a while. Sometimes I don't want to go through that first sting of medicated drops.

Reminiscence

I have never been able to self-administer saline eyedrops, but I had to get over that fear when I got contact lenses. Now I can just tilt my head back, hold the bottle over my eye and squirt a few drops. I think the only thing that bothers me now about eye drops is the temperature. Those drops can be a little cold.

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    • Saline eye drops are available over the counter and can be used to treat red or dry eyes.
      By: Max Tactic
      Saline eye drops are available over the counter and can be used to treat red or dry eyes.
    • Someone with eye strain might benefit from using saline eye drops.
      By: Innovated Captures
      Someone with eye strain might benefit from using saline eye drops.
    • When using eye drops, ensure that the tip never comes into contact with the eye itself.
      By: Igor Mojzes
      When using eye drops, ensure that the tip never comes into contact with the eye itself.
    • Saline eye drops are used to moisten dry eyes.
      By: Delphimages
      Saline eye drops are used to moisten dry eyes.