But overusing the drops can set up a cycle of dependency. Your eyes have to work even harder to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the blood vessels. The more you use the drops, the redder your eyes become. This is sometimes referred to as “rebound redness.” Eventually this can escalate to chronic eye redness.
Risks of Overusing Eye Drops
However, overusing these eye drops could cause a rebound effect, where the blood vessels constrict so much and so little oxygen and nutrients reach your eyes that your body overcompensates and dilates the vessels even more. This could worsen and prolong your eye redness and irritation.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology says over-the-counter eye drops are safe to use as often as you need, but only if the eye drops don't have added preservatives. There are no ingredients present in eye drops unsafe for use, but the added preservatives may irritate your eyes.
For many people, artificial tears or eye drops can relieve mild cases of dry eye. While there are different kinds of eye drops and artificial tears, most eye drops can be used up to 4 times a day.
But overusing the drops can set up a cycle of dependency. Your eyes have to work even harder to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the blood vessels. The more you use the drops, the redder your eyes become. This is sometimes referred to as “rebound redness.” Eventually this can escalate to chronic eye redness.
For drops that are required twice a day, the ideal dosing regimen is every 12 hours, and for drops that are dosed three times a day, the ideal dosing regimen is every 8 hours. However, sometimes that is not practical, and wiggle room of an hour or two (early or late) should be fine.
They're a quick and gratifying fix to itchy or irritated eyes, but they don't address what might be causing the irritation to begin with. The American College of Allergies, Asthma and Immunology says not to use eye drops regularly beyond a couple of weeks, unless instructed to do so by your eye doctor.
If you need to use more than 1 type of eye drop, like different drops for different eye conditions, wait at least 5 minutes between each type.
Usually, drops may be used as often as needed. Ointments are usually used 1 to 2 times daily as needed. If using an ointment once a day, it may be best to use it at bedtime. To apply eye ointment/drops/gels: Wash hands first.
Lubricating eye drops are generally safe to use as often as you need them if they do not have preservatives.
Overusing eye drops can lead to a rebound effect, where your eyes become even more dry, inflamed, and sensitive, leading to a vicious cycle. It's important to follow our eye doctor's recommendations and to not overuse eye drops.
Don't Blink
After applying eyedrops, many people believe they should blink a lot to spread the drops around the eye. But this is ineffective. Blinking may cause some of the drop to leak out, hindering optimal absorption.
Your natural tears will wash away when you excessively use artificial tear eye drops. Overusing them can cause you to become dependent on the drops to moisturize and soothe your eyes.
A medicine written 4 times daily should roughly be taken 4 or 5 hours apart while you are awake assuming you wake up at 7 am and go to bed at 10 pm, for example: 7 am (when you wake up)
Some people with chronic dry eye notice that their symptoms become worse at night. There could be a variety of reasons for this, including fatigue from using your eyes all day, changes in your metabolism at night, and certain medical conditions.
Although it's tempting to rub your eyes with your hands in the morning, try to resist. It's never a good idea, as germs on your hands could lead to an eye infection. The best way to clean your eyes (and, it feels good!) is to lay a washcloth soaked with very warm water on your eyelids and lashes and gently clean them.
Sleeping with your head elevated may reduce your eye pressure at night and decrease your risk of glaucoma-related vision problems. Baseline eye pressure was measured prior to sleep, then at two-hour intervals during a sleep period lasting six hours.
For ophthalmic dosage form (eye drops): Adults—Use one drop in the affected eye two to four times a day. During the first 24 to 48 hours, you may use this medicine every 4 hours, as directed by your doctor.
Answer: Dry eyes are common and are related to the lack of proper tear production on the eye's surface. It is also due to being in a very dry environment (like inside an aircraft cabin). This dryness is on the eye's surface and will not change the eye's internal pressure.
Vision may be temporarily blurred when this product is first used. Also, minor burning/stinging/irritation may temporarily occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
When your eyes are dry or you are frequently using a drop that has preservatives, your eye has little “cracks/cuts” that are microscopic, therefore it stings when first putting the drops in your eyes. Using artificial tears consistently is the best way to combat this.
Common causes of decreased tear production include: Aging. Certain medical conditions including Sjogren's syndrome, allergic eye disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, graft vs. host disease, sarcoidosis, thyroid disorders or vitamin A deficiency.