10 Best Eye Drops for Contact Lenses UK 2022 | Hycosan, Clinitas and More

For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:

1. Clinitas - 0.2% Soothing Eye Drops for £8.00
2. Ocusan - Single Dose Eye Drops for £12.80
3. Blink - Soothing Eye Drops for £2.66
4. Boots - Contact Lens Eye Drops for £3.49
5. A. Vogel - Extra Moisturising Eye Drops for £13.48

For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of eye drops for contact lenses available and understand how our ranking was determined.

This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.

1. Check the Sodium Hyaluronate Content to Deduce How Hydrating They Are
2. Consider the Frequency of Use When Choosing Standard or Preservative-Free
3. Choose Single-Use Vials for the Most Hygienic Storage Solution

The moistening property in eye drops comes from sodium hyaluronate, so more severe cases will need a higher content of the chemical. Mild drops tend to contain around 0.1%. For drier eyes, you should look for a sodium hyaluronate content of 0.2% and above. More severe cases are usually treated with 0.25 - 0.4% drops, but these are not normally available over the counter and will need to be prescribed by your doctor. 

Take a break from your lenses with the right pair of reading glasses.

Preservatives are used to stop harmful bacteria from growing inside the eye drop bottle, so products containing these chemicals have a longer shelf life of up to 6 months. Because they come in larger volumes with a longer shelf life, they tend to be the most cost-effective option, but they're only recommended for mild cases. Using them more than six times per day can be harmful to your eyes. 

The last thing you want to do is make your dry or itchy eyes even more irritated, so if you have sensitive eyes or need to use drops more frequently, it's best to opt for a preservative-free formula. This variety can be used multiple times daily, with no limit to how many times you can reapply. They are a more expensive option, but relief from chronic dryness is often deemed worth the investment. 

Strained, irritated eyes or problems sleeping? Try some blue light blocking glasses.

If you decide to opt for a preservative-free formula, it will likely come in a single-dose container. These individually sealed plastic vials contain between 0.04 and 0.05 ml, making them the perfect size for one application. This helps to keep the rest of your stock separate from the opened bottles to avoid contamination and the risk of harmful bacterial growth. 

They come in packs of around 20 to 30, so you'll have to consider how many doses you will need per day to work out how long the multipack will last. As well as the added expense of the preservative-free formula, you may notice that single-dose packaging is also more expensive than full-sized bottles. However, it is vital if you want to ensure preservative-free drops remain safe to use over an extended time period.

Suffering from hay fever or itchiness? Double up with some eye drops for dry eyes.

This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.

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Written and researched by Alicia Byrne