Artificial tears: are cheap ones safe?

Cheap vs expensive artificial tears: does it really matter?

A 10 ml bottle of artificial tears costs 6 euros at a drugstore chain, while 20 single-dose vials (8 ml in total) sell for 10 euros at the pharmacy. The price difference per millilitre is huge, but is it also a matter of safety? Consumer analysis shows there is no single answer.

Price per millilitre: the single-dose rip-off
One user worked out that 20 vials of 0.4 ml each add up to just 8 ml of product, packaged in a flurry of plastic and cardboard that pushes the price up to 10 euros. By contrast, a 10 ml multi-dose bottle costs around 6 euros at drugstores or perfume shops. That makes single doses 108% more expensive. However, single-dose vials contain no preservatives, which makes them advisable for occasional use or for people sensitive to preservatives. For daily use, such as by those with blepharitis or chronic dryness, the multi-dose bottle is cheaper and more practical, provided you choose one without preservatives or with a closure system that prevents contamination.

Dependency or necessity? The debate over continuous use
One school of thought holds that artificial tears are harmless and necessary, even at three drops a day. Others warn that continuous use worsens dryness: "the more you use them, the drier the eye gets afterwards", they argue. The shared first-hand evidence shows that some users have been using them for years without any worsening, while others report salt-like residue and a gritty feeling. The majority view leans towards using them in moderation and seeking treatment for the underlying cause, such as blepharitis.

Blepharitis: the hidden problem behind dry eyes
Several participants share their experience with blepharitis, a chronic inflammation of the eyelids that causes dryness. Conventional treatment includes warm compresses, cleansing wipes and artificial tears. However, one testimony highlights that blepharitis can be cured in a few days with a corticosteroid eye drop (Visublegarite, withdrawn in Spain), after years of useless ophthalmologists. This raises the question of whether many artificial tear prescriptions only treat the symptom, not the cause.

Alternatives and practical recommendations
Products like Hylo Dual, with a closure system that keeps the bottle sterile for 6 months, offer better value for money. Supermarket brands (such as Deliplus at Mercadona) are sold preservative-free at reasonable prices. Users agree there is no noticeable difference between expensive pharmacy products and cheap drugstore ones. The key is to avoid irritating preservatives and not to overuse the drops.

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The question left hanging is whether the artificial tears market is designed to turn a problem that could be solved with a proper diagnosis into a chronic condition. Meanwhile, the smart consumer goes for large formats, preservative-free and at a reasonable price.

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