Where to Buy Eye Drops

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All eye drops are not created equal. The kind of drops you need determines where to buy eye drops for the greatest safety at the lowest cost.

Any kind of drop is a sterile, saline solution with a natural or synthetic component meant to soothe, moisten, or medicate the eye.

Some drops do not have any kind of medications in them because they are meant just to replace tears when there is some kind of condition causing dry eyes.

You can go almost anywhere to buy drops such as the well-known Murine and Visine, made to replace tears and also containing chemicals to control redness of the eyes. Some products are sold over the counter, but others require a doctor's prescription.

Why do people use eye drops?

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Allergies. Your eyes are especially susceptible to allergens in molds, dust, pollen, and pet dander.

Dryness. Eye drops can supply artificial tears to lubricate eyes that are dry from low humidity, high temperature, or a chronic health condition.

Infections. Herbal drops and physician prescribed medications relieve eye infections.

Itching. Infection, dryness, allergies, and airborne chemicals can cause itchy eyes.

Mattering. Bacterial and viral infections irritate the eye and cause green and yellow discharge that dries on the lids and the surface of the eye.

Redness. Dry air, dust, second-hand smoke, and chemical irritants are just a few of the substances that can cause the blood vessels in the sclera (white) of the eye to dilate and redden.

Soreness: Some drops offer immediate pain relief.

Swelling. Allergies and chemical sensitivities can cause swollen eyes.

Over the counter drops are fine for short-term use. They do not treat infections such as conjunctivitis or pinkeye, however, they may actually irritate the eyes if they are used over long periods of time.

That is because most of the over the counter products contain preservatives to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria while the product sits in a warehouse waiting to be transported to the retail store.

Even with these preservatives, you should discard any over the counter drops that you or any member of your family has applied to infected eyes. Even if you are the only member of the product using the product, discarding a contaminated applicator can keep you from re-infecting yourself.

If your eye problem is only a short-term concern, then the question of where to buy drops might be best answered by shopping at a local retailer to get a single bottle.

If you expect to use a product for 2 or 3 months, however, you can still get that trial bottle of drops at a local store, but you can save money by buying future bottles of the product online. Online retailers often offer savings up to 80 per cent and, because they specialize in eye care products, sell you a fresher product.

If you have an eye problem benefiting from eye drops for more than 2 or 3 months, or if you have any eye infection or diagnosed eye disease, you require a prescription product. Again, it's easier to pick up that first bottle at a local pharmacy.

If your insurance does not cover your eye drops, purchase them online and you will save money.

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