My Eyes Burn When I Use the Computer or My Phone. What Eye Drops Should I Use?
- Jul 10
- 2 min read
If your eyes start to burn after spending time on your computer, phone, or tablet, you’re not alone. Digital screens have become a part of everyday life, but they can also contribute to dry, irritated eyes.
In fact, many people notice burning, stinging, blurry vision, or a gritty sensation after several hours of screen use.
One of the main reasons is that we blink less when looking at a screen. Blinking spreads tears across the surface of the eye, keeping it moist and comfortable.
When we blink less often or don’t blink completely, tears evaporate more quickly, leading to dryness and irritation.
Which Eye Drops Work Best?
For most people, lubricating eye drops, also known as artificial tears, are the best place to start. These drops help replace moisture on the surface of the eye and provide temporary relief from burning, dryness, and irritation.
Common OTC options include:
Refresh Tears®
Refresh Optive®
Systane Ultra®
Systane Complete®
Blink Tears®
If you need to use eye drops several times a day, consider a preservative-free formula, which is often gentler on the eyes with frequent use.
Are Redness-Relief Eye Drops a Good Choice?
Not usually!
Products designed to “get the red out” temporarily reduce redness by constricting blood vessels, but they do not treat dry eyes and may worsen redness with frequent use.
If your eyes burn after screen time, lubricating eye drops are generally the better option.
What Else Can I Do?
Eye drops work best when combined with healthy screen habits.
Try these simple tips:
Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
Blink slowly and completely while using digital devices.
Keep your screen slightly below eye level.
Reduce direct airflow from fans or air conditioners.
Stay well hydrated throughout the day.
When Burning Eyes May Be More Than Screen Fatigue?
If your eyes burn every day, require frequent eye drops, or your symptoms continue despite using artificial tears, you may have dry eye disease rather than occasional screen-related irritation.
Dry eye can occur when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or when your tears evaporate too quickly. Identifying the underlying cause is important because treatment depends on what’s causing the dryness—not just the symptoms.
To learn more about dry eye OTC available treatment options, visit Dry Eye page for a pharmacist- guided selection.
Found OTC is your place to find smart over-the-counter solutions for common daily conditions, designed by the pharmacist.
Pharmacist Reviewed: the information in this article was clinically reviewed by Samer Altameemi, a licensed pharmacist. It is intended for educational purposes, not to substitute for a doctor's professional medical advice.
Disclosure: some links in the above article are affiliate links where we might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
