Which Allergy Eye Drops Are Best for Red, Itchy Eyes and Allergic Conjunctivitis?

You’ve likely experienced red, itchy eyes at some point. Perhaps you were cutting the grass or playing with the family pet. Whatever the cause, your eyes began to water, itch, and turn red. Maybe you ended up in your local pharmacy looking for allergy eye drops to provide relief.

Like with most over-the-counter (OTC) products, there are many types of allergy eye drops to choose from. Some have antihistamines, while others have decongestants or moisturizers. There are also prescription allergy eye drops available.

All claim to soothe symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis. But which allergy eye drop is the best?

What is allergic conjunctivitis?

Allergic conjunctivitis is the medical term for red, itchy eyes you get from allergies. This condition is caused by an allergic response to something. Pollen, mold, and pet dander are all common allergens (substances that cause allergy symptoms).

Symptoms typically affect both eyes equally. Common symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis include:

• Itchy eyes

• Tearing

• Red eyes

• Puffy eyelids

• Burning

• Feeling like something is in your eye

Thankfully, there are many allergic conjunctivitis medications and treatments in the form of eye drops.

What are the best eye drops for allergies?

There are many different types of allergy eye drops. Some OTC brands, like Clear Eyes, Visine, and Refresh, make different types of drops. And, often, there are multiple brand names that contain the same active ingredient. So be sure to check the OTC label on the package to see what medication(s) are in the eye drops you have.

Good to know: Allergy eye drops only target eye symptoms. If you also have other allergy symptoms, such as sneezing or a runny nose, you may want to consider allergy medications that target both eye and body-wide symptoms. You can also combine allergy eye drops with other dosage forms, such as oral pills or nasal sprays, for even more symptom relief.

Decongestant eye drops

Decongestant eye drops act quickly to reduce eye redness. They work by narrowing the blood vessels in and around the eyes. Many decongestant eye drops also include one or two other medications, like zinc or glycerin. These can help boost the eye drops’ redness relief quality or provide moisture.

While decongestant eye drops work well, they’re not recommended for long-term use. Using them for too long can lead to “rebound redness.” This is when your eyes become dependent on the decongestant and you experience worse redness when you try to stop using them.

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Examples of decongestant eye drop brands include:

• Bausch & Lomb Advanced Eye Relief Redness (naphazoline 0.012% / polyethylene glycol 300, 0.2%)

• Clear Eyes Cooling Comfort Itchy Eye Relief (naphazoline 0.012% / glycerin 0.25% / zinc sulfate 0.25%)

• Clear Eyes Maximum Redness Relief (naphazoline 0.03% / glycerin 0.5%)

• Visine A.C. Itchy Eye Relief (tetrahydrozoline 0.05% / zinc sulfate 0.25%)

• Visine Red Eye Comfort (tetrahydrozoline 0.05%)

To prevent rebound redness, it’s recommended to only use eye drops that contain decongestants for up to 3 days in a row. If you feel you still need them after that, contact a healthcare professional.

Artificial tears and moisturizers

Dry eye is a very common condition. Sometimes it goes hand in hand with red, itchy eyes. For some people, eye drops that mimic natural tears can help return moisture to the eyes. They can also help wash allergens out of your eyes.

Artificial tears come as eye drops, gels, and ointments and contain a variety of different active ingredients. Gels and ointments are thicker and stay in the eye longer. This can help reduce the number of times you use them per day. But they can cause some blurry vision right after applying them. Using these thicker products at bedtime can help prevent this side effect from bothering you during the day.

Examples of brand-name artificial tears include:

• Clear Eyes Advanced Dry and Itchy Relief (glycerin 0.25%)

• Clear Eyes Natural Tears (polyvinyl alcohol 0.5% / povidone 0.6%)

• Refresh Classic (polyvinyl alcohol 1.4% / povidone 0.6%)

• Refresh Liquigel (carboxymethylcellulose sodium 1%)

• Systane Balance (propylene glycol 0.6%)

• Systane Ultra (polyethylene glycol 400, 0.4% / propylene glycol 0.3%)

• TheraTears Liquid Gel Nighttime (sodium carboxymethylcellulose 1%)

• Visine Dry Eye Relief Tired Eye (polyethylene glycol 400, 1%)

Even though these eye drops act like our natural tears, you should still ask a healthcare professional before using artificial tears long-term. While generally considered safe, chronic use of artificial tears can worsen dry eye in some cases.

Antihistamine / mast cell stabilizer eye drops

Antihistamine / mast cell stabilizer eye drops are an effective treatment for allergic conjunctivitis. They work in two ways to relieve symptoms: by blocking histamine and stabilizing mast cells.

Histamine is a chemical your immune system makes to help fight off foreign invaders. It can trigger red, itchy eyes as a defense against allergens. Antihistamine eye drops block histamine’s effects — helping to provide eye allergy relief.

Mast cells are another part of the immune system. They activate in response to allergens and release many chemicals, including histamine. Mast cell stabilizers work by making mast cells less likely to activate.

Examples of antihistamine / mast cell stabilizer eye drop brands include:

• Alaway (ketotifen 0.025%)

• Clear Eyes Once Daily Eye Allergy Itch Relief (olopatadine 0.2%)

• Extra Strength Pataday Once Daily Relief (olopatadine 0.7%)

• Pataday Once Daily Relief (olopatadine 0.2%)

• Pataday Twice A Day Relief (olopatadine 0.1%)

• Zaditor (ketotifen 0.025%)

Mast cell stabilizer eye drops

Mast cell stabilizer eye drops are available by prescription only. They work by making mast cells less likely to release histamine. But unlike the OTC antihistamine / mast cell stabilizer eye drops, these don’t block histamine’s effects. Because of this, they’re less effective.

Examples of mast cell stabilizer eye drops include:

• Alocril (nedocromil 2%)

• Alomide (lodoxamide 0.1%)

• Cromolyn sodium 4%

These allergy eye drops can take days or weeks to start working. So they may be an option if you experience allergic conjunctivitis frequently. But experts recommend trying other allergy eye drops first before using mast cell stabilizers.

OTC combination allergy eye drops

For the sake of convenience, multiple medications can be combined into one eye drop. Some OTC allergy eye drops contain both an antihistamine and a decongestant. Lubricants may also be added for extra moisture.

As mentioned earlier, it’s important to review the label on the box. Look for the list of active ingredients. This will tell you which medications are included in your eye drops. If you have questions about your specific product, contact a healthcare professional.

Examples of combination allergy eye drops include:

• Naphcon-A (naphazoline 0.025% / pheniramine 0.3%)

• Opcon-A (naphazoline 0.02675% / pheniramine 0.315%)

• Visine Allergy Eye Relief Multi-Action (naphazoline 0.025% / pheniramine 0.3%)

You shouldn’t use more than one eye drop with the same active ingredients at the same time. You also shouldn’t combine eye drops that are in the same medication class. For example, you shouldn’t use two eye drops if they both contain decongestants.

Anti-inflammatory eye drops

Anti-inflammatory eye drops fall into two main categories: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids (“steroids”). Both NSAIDs and corticosteroids work to reduce swelling and pain in and around the eyes.

NSAID eye drops are typically less effective than antihistamine / mast cell stabilizer drops for allergy-related symptoms. Steroid eye drops are usually reserved to treat more severe symptoms and only recommended for brief periods. Both types of anti-inflammatory eye drops require a prescription.

Examples of anti-inflammatory eye drops include:

• Acular (ketorolac 0.5%)

• FML (fluorometholone 0.1%)

• Pred Forte (prednisolone 1%)

• Lotemax (loteprednol 0.5%)

Are prescription or over-the-counter allergy eye drops better?

In most cases, OTC allergy eye drops can provide the relief needed for red, itchy eyes. OTC drops are safe and effective in treating allergic conjunctivitis. In some cases, the FDA will actually approve prescription allergy eye medications to be sold OTC, such as with Pataday.

Prescription allergy eye drops are usually considered when symptoms are more severe, or if OTC eye drops don’t work well enough. Excessive or persistent symptoms could point to a condition other than allergic conjunctivitis. In this case, OTC medications may not be appropriate to use.

When should I see a healthcare professional for red, itchy eyes?

Temporary periods of red, itchy eyes with no other symptoms usually don’t need medical attention. Though, if your symptoms don’t improve after a few days or get worse, contact a healthcare professional. If you’re already established with an optometrist or ophthalmologist (two types of eye doctors), this would be the ideal healthcare professional to call in this case.

You should also contact them if you notice eye discharge or crusting. These can be symptoms of a bacterial or viral pink eye infection. Seek emergency help if you have more serious symptoms, such as vision changes or severe headache.

How to save on allergy eye drops

There are ways to save on your allergy eye drops. GoodRx can help you navigate your options, which may include GoodRx discounts, copay savings cards, and patient assistance programs. You can find allergic conjunctivitis eye drop prices as low as $9 with a free GoodRx discount. And if a healthcare professional writes you a prescription for OTC eye drops, you can apply a GoodRx coupon to help you save.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Clay M. Cooper, PharmD

Clay Cooper, PharmD, has over 10 years of pharmacy practice experience in a variety of healthcare settings, including in independent community pharmacy, retail pharmacy, and long-term care pharmacy. He is a licensed pharmacist in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

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