Should I use redness-relief drops like Visine every day?

No. Redness-relief drops (tetrahydrozoline, the ingredient in Visine and its generics) work by shrinking blood vessels, and using them regularly can cause rebound redness, where your eyes get redder when the drop wears off, pulling you into a cycle. Use them occasionally at most. For everyday comfort use plain lubricating artificial tears instead, which you can use as often as needed, and see an eye doctor if redness persists.

When should I choose preservative-free eye drops?

Choose preservative-free single-use vials if you use artificial tears more than about four times a day, wear contact lenses, or have sensitive eyes, because frequent exposure to preservatives can irritate. They cost more per mL than multi-dose bottles, but store brands make a preservative-free version too, so you still save versus the name brand. For occasional dryness, a standard multi-dose bottle is fine and cheaper.

Store-brand eye drops are the same active ingredients as the brand.

Q: Are generic eye drops the same as Systane or Refresh?

For the active ingredient, yes. Over-the-counter eye drops are required by law to list the same active ingredients, so a store-brand lubricant eye drop has the same working ingredients as Systane or Refresh, and generic ketotifen is the same drug as Zaditor. Formulations and feel can vary slightly between products, but the store brand is a real, effective drop for 2 to 3 times less. Match the type to your need (dry eye, allergy or redness) and the store brand in that type will save you the most.

Q: What is the cheapest eye drop?

Store-brand basic artificial tears are cheapest per mL for everyday dryness, often around 30 to 45 cents a mL versus over a dollar for Systane or Refresh. Generic ketotifen is far cheaper than brand Zaditor or Alaway for itchy allergy eyes, and store-brand redness or rewetting drops undercut Visine. Buy the store brand of the type you actually need, and preservative-free vials only if you use drops many times a day or have sensitive eyes.

OTC eye drops are required by law to list the same active ingredients, so store-brand artificial tears are Systane and Refresh, and generic ketotifen is Zaditor, for 2 to 3 times less. The trick is matching the type to your need, dry eye, allergy or redness, then buying the store brand in that type. Here is every option ranked by real cost per mL.

Prices reviewed 31 July 2026 . Cost per mL, in USD. Not medical advice; see an eye doctor for persistent symptoms.

usefulHQ Study · 2026

Brand eye drops cost 2 to 3× more per mL than the same-ingredient generic

We costed OTC eye drops by cost per mL. Store-brand artificial tears run about $0.40 a mL versus $1.20 to $1.30 for Systane and Refresh; generic ketotifen undercuts brand Zaditor for allergy eyes; store-brand redness drops undercut Visine. OTC eye drops must list the same active ingredients by law, so the store brand is a real, effective drop, and you match the type to your need.

Cheapest / mL

$0.40

store-brand artificial tears

Brand / mL

$1.25

Systane / Refresh

Skip the daily habit

Redness drops

rebound redness with overuse

Average cost per mL, generic vs brand

Method: cost per mL from typical US bottle prices and sizes. OTC eye drops must list the same active ingredients by law; store and name brands of the same type are therefore comparably effective, though feel can differ. Preservative-free vials cost more per mL but suit frequent or sensitive use. Prices are indicative and change. Cite this: "usefulHQ Eye Drops Cost Study 2026", usefulhq.com/eye-drops-cost/. Not medical advice.

More usefulHQ studies

All studies →Generic vs brand medicine →Contact lens cost →Allergy medicine cost →

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<p><a href="https://compare.usefulhq.com/eye-drops-cost/">usefulHQ</a>: Store-brand eye drops are the same active ingredients as Systane, Refresh and Zaditor for 2 to 3&times; less.</p>

mL used per month

Over how many months

months

Occasional use is a few mL a month; frequent dry-eye users go through 10 to 20 mL, where the per-mL price really matters.

Show only

Eye drop	For	Per mL	Cost / month	Over term	Best for
Store-brand artificial tearsBest value Same active lubricants as Systane and Refresh; the value pick for everyday dry eye, use as often as needed.	Dry eye	$0.40	$4	$48	Cheapest everyday dryness	Check price
Store-brand rewetting drops Rewetting or comfort drops for contact wearers; the store brand matches the name brands.	Dry eye	$0.45	$5	$54	Contact-lens comfort	Check price
Store-brand redness relief Same as Visine (tetrahydrozoline); use only occasionally, since regular use causes rebound redness.	Redness	$0.60	$6	$72	Cheapest redness (occasional)	Check price
Store-brand preservative-free Preservative-free single-use vials, the store-brand of Refresh Plus, for frequent or sensitive-eye use.	Dry eye	$0.90	$9	$108	Frequent / sensitive use	Check price
Generic ketotifen The same drug as Zaditor and Alaway (ketotifen); antihistamine drops for itchy allergy eyes, far cheaper.	Allergy	$1.10	$11	$132	Same as Zaditor	Check price
Refresh Tears (brand) Lubricant artificial tears; the store brand has the same active ingredients for less.	Dry eye	$1.20	$12	$144	Brand dry-eye	Check price
Systane Ultra (brand) Longer-lasting lubricant; effective, but the store-brand lubricant matches the actives for a fraction.	Dry eye	$1.30	$13	$156	Brand dry-eye	Check price
Visine (brand) Tetrahydrozoline; the same drug as generic redness drops, and the same rebound-redness caution applies.	Redness	$1.50	$15	$180	Brand redness	Check price
Systane preservative-free (brand) Brand preservative-free vials; the store-brand PF version is much cheaper per mL.	Dry eye	$2.20	$22	$264	Brand PF	Check price
Zaditor / Alaway (brand) Ketotifen antihistamine drops; identical active ingredient to the generic at roughly three times the price.	Allergy	$3.30	$33	$396	Brand allergy drops	Check price

Match the type, then buy the store brand. OTC eye drops must list the same active ingredients by law, so a store brand is a genuine, effective drop, and the name-brand premium mostly buys the name. The types: artificial tears (lubricants like Systane and Refresh) for everyday dryness, used as often as needed; allergy drops (ketotifen, the drug in Zaditor and Alaway) for itchy, watery allergy eyes; redness drops (tetrahydrozoline, the Visine ingredient), which should be used only occasionally because regular use causes rebound redness. Choose preservative-free vials if you use drops more than about four times a day, wear contacts or have sensitive eyes. Persistent dry eye, redness or irritation deserves an eye doctor, since it can have a treatable cause, and prescription drops (like Restasis) are a different category. This is information, not medical advice.

Common questions

Are generic eye drops the same as Systane or Refresh?

For the active ingredient, yes, OTC eye drops must list the same active ingredients by law, so a store-brand lubricant has the same working ingredients as Systane or Refresh, and generic ketotifen is Zaditor. Feel can vary slightly, but the store brand is effective for 2 to 3 times less.

What is the cheapest eye drop?

Store-brand basic artificial tears, around 30 to 45 cents a mL for everyday dryness. Generic ketotifen beats brand Zaditor for allergy eyes, and store-brand redness or rewetting drops undercut Visine. Buy the store brand of the type you need.

Should I use Visine-type redness drops daily?

No. Redness drops (tetrahydrozoline) shrink blood vessels, and regular use causes rebound redness, a cycle where eyes get redder as the drop wears off. Use occasionally at most; for daily comfort use plain artificial tears, and see a doctor if redness persists.

When do I need preservative-free?

If you use drops more than ~4 times a day, wear contacts, or have sensitive eyes, since frequent preservative exposure can irritate. They cost more per mL, but store brands make preservative-free versions too. For occasional use, a standard bottle is fine and cheaper.