All Refresh drops are not equal

Searching for The Next Drop to Try?

These days, most eye drop brands come in many varieties. Sometimes the variations under the same name are similar - but sometimes they're actually quite different. So If you've ever said to yourself "I like brand X" or "I tried brand Y and it didn't work for me", don't forget that you may only have tried one of many products that happen to be linked under the same brand family. This email series is to help demystify some apparently minor differences between drops and highlight things you may have glossed over in searching for The Next Drop to Try.

Note: This table does not cover most inactive ingredients. You can find all those in our ingredient guide (linked below).

Product

Active Ingredient(s)

Inactive ingredient(s) of interest

Notes
 
CMC ONLY
Refresh Plus
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 0.5%
-
Least likely to blur vision? Same base as Celluvisc but half the concentration.
Refresh Celluvisc
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 1%
-
Thick!
Also popular with scleral lens users as a supplement "in the bowl".
CMC & GLYCERIN
Refresh Relieva
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 0.5%
Glycerin 0.9%
Sodium hyaluronate
Only one with hyaluronate
Available in multi-dose preserative-free bottle
Refresh Optive
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 0.5%
Glycerin 0.9%
-
CMC, GLYCERIN, POLYSORBATE 80
Refresh Optive Advanced
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 0.5%
Glycerin 1%
Polysorbate 80 0.5%
Castor oil
Same as Digital
Refresh Optive Mega-3
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 0.5%
Glycerin 1%
Polysorbate 80 0.5%
Castor oil
Flaxseed oil
Refresh Digital

Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 0.5%
Glycerin 1%
Polysorbate 80 0.5%

Castor oil
Same as Optive Advanced
OTHER
Refresh PM
Mineral Oil 42.5%
White Petrolatum 57.3%
Lanolin alcohol
Very popular ointment. Less petrolatum than most others.

 

Read more about eye drop ingredients on our reference list:

Ingredient Guide for Drops, Gels, Ointments & Sprays


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