Dry Eye Guide
Finally understand what’s really causing your gritty, burning, tired eyes—and discover the exact drops, remedies, and treatments that actually work (without making things worse)
Dry eye isn’t just “annoying”—it’s a chronic condition affecting over 30% of Canadians, made worse by screens, HVAC, contact lenses, and preservative-loaded drugstore drops. We built this guide because we’ve been there: endless trial-and-error, $400 optometrist visits, and shelves of half-used bottles. Everything here is evidence-based, Canada-focused, and 100% independent.
[Take the 60-Second Dry Eye Quiz →]
[Jump to the 2025 Drops Comparison Table →]
Quick-Start Guides:
1. What Type of Dry Eye Do You Actually Have? (Most people guess wrong)
- Evaporative Dry Eye (MGD) – 80–90% of cases. Oil glands in your lids are clogged → tears evaporate too fast. Feels worse in air-conditioning or after staring at screens.
- Aqueous Deficient – Your eyes don’t produce enough water layer. Often linked to Sjögren’s, age, or medications. Constant burning/stinging.
- Mixed – Both (the majority).
Not sure? Warm compress + lid massage for 2 weeks. If it helps dramatically → MGD. If not → see an optometrist for tear osmolarity testing.
2. The 5 Biggest Mistakes You Might Be Making
- Using preserved drops (Visine, Refresh Classic, etc.) → preservatives wreck your cornea over time.
- Buying whatever’s on sale at the drugstore.
- Thinking “redness relief” = dry eye relief (it’s the opposite).
- Ignoring lid hygiene (this alone fixes 50% of cases).
- Giving up after one bottle doesn’t work — most people need a sequenced protocol.
3. The 2025 Preservative-Free Drops Ranking (Canada-Available)
| Rank | Brand | Best For | Price per mL | Single-dose or Multi? | Our Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thealoz Duo | Moderate–severe, contact lens wearers | ~$1.10 | Multi-dose (ABA) | Current gold standard in Canada |
| 2 | iVizia Sterile Drops | Daily relief, budget-friendly | ~$0.85 | Single-vials | Best value, made by Similasan/Systane parent |
| 3 | Hylo / Hylo-Fresh | Nighttime, thick gel-like feel | ~$1.30 | COMOD multi-dose | Longest-lasting per drop |
| 4 | Hycosan Extra | Severe burning/stinging | ~$1.40 | COMOD | Highest hyaluronic concentration |
| 5 | Oasis Tears Plus | Post-LASIK or very damaged surface | ~$1.60 | Single-vials | Prescription-level protection |
(We’ll update this table the moment we receive and test new 2026 formulations.)
4. Your 7-Day “Stop the Cycle” Protocol (Free)
Day 1–7: Morning + night → 4-minute warm compress (Bruder mask or microwave rice bag) + lid massage 4× daily → Preservative-free drop from the table above Before bed → Hylo Night / VitA-POS ointment Zero screen time without 20-20-20 rule → 70–80% of our community reports major improvement in one week.
Ready to take action?
Ready for relief that actually lasts? Browse our curated, Canada-stocked collection — every product in the shop has been chosen because it appears in this guide.
[Shop Preservative-Free Drops] [Shop Warm Compress Masks & Accessories]
P.S. New here? Join 240+ Canadians on our waitlist and get the full 2026 comparison PDF + 15% off your first order.