Vaseline, more or less.
Which ointment to choose? There are lots of ointments on the market, and they're all made of the same stuff mostly - white petrolatum and mineral oil. The main thing that distinguishes one product from another is the proportions of those two ingredients. Systane and Genteal ointments are 94% white petrolatum and only 3% mineral oil.
For plenty of people the differences may not matter, but certainly I've noticed some over the years who find that the proportions matter for their purposes, so comparison shopping can be helpful.
Should I be using ointment at all? Ointments are attractive for overnight use due to their staying power - unlike polymer drops and gel drops, they don't just dissolve and dissipate in a short time. However, not everyone who has moderate to severe overnight dry eye symptoms therefore has to use an ointment. Many people can get by with a less viscous (not to mention non-greasy!) lubricant, such as a polymer gel or even gel drop, if they also use some kind of night protection (shield, mask, goggle, etc.).
SYSTANE® Nighttime Lubricant Eye Ointment is a safe and effective formulation with no preservatives. This unpreserved ointment, when applied to the eyes, forms a smooth, comfortable protective film, especially useful for nighttime protection and lubricant of dry eyes.
White Petrolatum 94% / Lubricant
If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.
Anhydrous Liquid Lanolin 3%.
| Effectiveness |
Rated 4 out of 5
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| Ease of Use |
Rated 5 out of 5
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| Value |
Rated 5 out of 5
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I didn't expect to like this ointment, but of all the ointments I've tried outside of Refresh, I like this the best.
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Rated 5 out of 5
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| Ease of Use |
Rated 5 out of 5
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| Value |
Rated 5 out of 5
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I bought this and the Retaine PM Nighttime ointment and have flip flopped between the two for about a week or two now. I think they're about the same honestly. This Systane one comes in an aluminum foil kind of tube, which makes it feel fancier than the Retaine which comes in a plastic tube. I know they have slightly different ratios of mineral oil / petrolatum content, but if I were to do a "blind taste test" where I didn't know which ointment you were giving me, I wouldn't have the slightest clue which one I was using. Either way, my eyes aren't as dry when I wake up and I don't have to keep a bunch of eye drops next to my bed anymore. They're both good though, they help.
| Effectiveness |
Rated 4 out of 5
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| Ease of Use |
Rated 5 out of 5
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| Value |
Rated 5 out of 5
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I love this preservative free lubricant and it really helps the overnight dryness!
| Effectiveness |
Rated 5 out of 5
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| Ease of Use |
Rated 5 out of 5
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| Value |
Rated 5 out of 5
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If You have extreme dry or your eyes dry out from using CPAP equipment this is a great nighttime ointment that keeps your eyes moist while you sleep
| Effectiveness |
Rated 5 out of 5
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| Ease of Use |
Rated 5 out of 5
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| Value |
Rated 5 out of 5
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