Refresh Tears Lubricant Eye Drops

Refresh Tears Lubricant Eye Drops is supplied as eye drops, with Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0. It is supplied in a pack size of 15ml.

No prescription is required for this product, as it is an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine. This page is limited to product, safety and handling information.

If you would like guidance before buying, you can speak to a doctor or pharmacist through an online consultation on DoctorOnCall. Orders are dispensed by a registered pharmacist and delivered to your address.

Wash your hands before use. Remove the cap, tilt your head back slightly, and look upward. Gently pull down the lower eyelid to form a small pocket and apply 1-2 drops into each affected eye without letting the bottle tip touch the eye or any other surface. Close your eyes gently for a few seconds afterward to help the drop spread and be absorbed.

This product is suitable for frequent daily use. If you wear contact lenses and experience any discomfort, remove them before applying the drop and reinsert them a short while afterward. If using other eye drops, space applications at least 5 minutes apart.

The typical adult and adolescent dose is 1-2 drops instilled into each affected eye, used up to 4 times a day, or as directed by a healthcare provider. There is no strict minimum — use only as often as needed for comfort within this guidance. If your symptoms do not improve, if you need to use the drops much more frequently than 4 times daily, or if symptoms worsen, stop self-treating and consult a doctor, optometrist, or pharmacist.

Use before the expiry date printed on the bottle and carton. As with most multi-dose eye drop bottles containing a preservative, check the label or carton for the manufacturer’s stated in-use period after first opening (commonly around one to a few months for this type of product), and discard the bottle once that period has passed even if solution remains, or ask your pharmacist if this is unclear.

Store below 25-30°C (room temperature), away from direct sunlight and excessive heat. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use, and keep out of reach and sight of children. Do not use the drops if the solution has changed colour or become cloudy.

• Common: mild, transient stinging or a temporary blurred vision immediately after instilling the drop.
• Common: a slight foreign-body or sticky sensation on the eyelids shortly after use.
• Serious: allergic reaction with eye redness, swelling, itching, or eyelid rash — stop use and seek medical advice if this occurs.
• Serious: persistent eye pain, worsening redness, or discharge continuing despite regular use — this needs prompt medical assessment.

• Known hypersensitivity to carboxymethylcellulose sodium or any other ingredient in the formulation.
• Do not use if the bottle tip or cap is damaged, or if the solution appears discoloured or contaminated.
• Not intended for use in eyes with a suspected active infection, penetrating injury, or shortly after eye surgery unless a doctor has specifically advised it is appropriate.

• As a topical eye drop with minimal systemic absorption, no clinically meaningful drug or food interactions are known for this product.
• If using other eye drops or ointments, space them at least 5 minutes apart from Refresh Tears so that one product does not dilute or wash out the effect of another.
• No specific food or beverage interactions are known.

• Keep the bottle handy at home, at work, or in your bag so it is easy to reach whenever you want to use it.
• Blink fully and more often during long periods of reading, driving, or screen use to help your natural tears spread evenly.
• Close your eyes gently for a few seconds after each drop to help it stay on the eye surface rather than running out.
• Avoid touching the bottle tip to your eye, eyelid, or fingers to prevent contaminating the remaining solution.
• Use the drops proactively before activities such as long flights or air-conditioned meetings.
• Write the date you first opened the bottle on the label so you know when to discard it based on the stated in-use period.

Precautions: Refresh Tears is for external, topical use in the eye only. Contact lens wearers can generally use this drop but should remove lenses first if any stinging or discomfort occurs. Pregnant or breastfeeding women can generally use this topical lubricant, as systemic absorption is minimal, but should check with a pharmacist if concerned. Vision may be briefly blurred after use, so wait until it clears before driving or operating machinery, and supervise use in young children.

When to See a Doctor or Pharmacist: Stop using the drops and see a doctor, optometrist, or pharmacist if you experience eye pain, sudden vision changes, persistent redness, unusual discharge, sensitivity to light, or if your symptoms do not improve or worsen despite regular use as directed. These can be signs of an eye infection or another condition that needs a proper eye examination rather than continued self-treatment.