Thera tears vs Refresh tears – Which gets you in tears again!
Wouldn’t dry eyes be relieved faster if people provided some behind-the-scenes details on brands they recommended?
I was recently transferred to our field office. It is located in a hot windy environment. A few days after relocating, I noticed my eyes were constantly itchy and watery.
Thinking it was the dust, I started wearing shades outdoors but the situation only worsened. Besides the pain/discomfort, the eyes also became red. When I shared with my colleagues in head office, one recommended Thera tears and another swore by Refresh tears.
Will more information help me end my Thera tears vs Refresh tears dilemma? Let’s find out:
What are the differences between Thera tears Vs Refresh tears? How do they compare?
Comparison Chart of Thera tears and Refresh tears
Eye drop | Thera tears | Refresh tears |
Packaging | Available in 15ml and 30ml in convenient multi-use bottles | Available in 15ml twin pack, 30ml, 60ml in convenient multi-use bottles |
Preservative | Preservative-free in the eye | Both with preservative and Preservative free |
Dosage | I or 2 drops as needed | I or 2 drops as needed |
Active Ingredient | Sodium carboxymethylcellulose 0.25% | Sodium carboxymethylcellulose 0.5% |
Unique inactive ingredient | Dequest, sodium bicarbonate, sodium perborate | Purite, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide |
Use | Lubricant for relief of dry eye symptoms, including those as a result of exposure to the sun and wind. It’s also a protectant against irritation of the eye further. | Lubricant for relief of dry eye symptoms, including those as a result of exposure to the sun and wind. It may also act as a protectant against irritation of the eye further. |
Thera tears vs Refresh tears – Which gets you in tears again!
Packaging
Thera tears is packaged in both the 15ml and the 30ml convenient multi-use bottles. Refresh tears, on the other hand, comes in multi-use bottles of 15ml twin pack (2 in 1), 30ml and 60ml. There is usually a bargain value in buying a bigger product, but then again, how much of it will you be using over a given period? There is no point buying a bigger product cost-effectively if you won’t use it up before its expiry date.
Preservative used
Thera tears has a unique preservative that disintegrates to oxygen and water upon coming into contact with the tear film. This minimizes chances of sensitivity or allergic reactions that preservatives cause.
Refresh tears has solutions either with or without preservative. It is now a worrying trend that more and more people report getting allergic reactions to preservatives used in eye drops. All the same, eye drops with preservatives still work for many people. One’s sensitivity or severity of the dry eye condition determines whether they will react negatively to the preservative.
Ingredients
Both eye drop brands use Sodium Carboxy methylcellulose as the active ingredient. The only difference is its concentration. Thera tears use it in a 0.25 concentration, while Refresh tears use it at 0.5%. It is not clear whether there is a statistically significant difference between using Carboxymethylcellulose at 0.25% and 0.5%. The important thing is that Carboxymethylcellulose works by mimicking the natural makeup of the tear and keeping the eye surface moist.
Besides, Thera tears have dequest (a chelant), sodium bicarbonate, and sodium perborate (pH balancers), in their inactive ingredients. These ingredients are important in constituting the unique preservative and the hypotonic solution. They are not present in Refresh tears. Similarly Refresh tears has Purite (a preservative), hydrochloric acid, and sodium hydroxide (for balancing pH) in their list of inactive ingredients not found in Thera tears.
Thera tears vs Refresh tears – Which gets you in tears again! – A Quick Round-up
Thera tears
Thera tears is said to bring immediate and long-lasting relief to dry eyes. It comes in 2 sizes which gives the consumer a small variety to choose from. Though convenient, the multi-use bottle can be easily contaminated if the tip touches any surface. The importance of proper handling cannot be underscored.
Because the preservative used in Thera tears changes into harmless components (oxygen and water) when in contact with the eye, it is classified as a vanishing preservative. This makes it a relatively safe preservative. In addition, the pH balancers in Thera tears make it hypotonic (having a lower osmotic pressure). This improves the concentration or saltiness of the tears (osmolarity). This is important because Hyperosmolarity (high salt concentration) is a common feature in most forms of dry eye syndrome. It damages eye cells.
Thera Tears for Dry Eyes (Review)
Pros
- Variety of bottle sizes to choose from
- Hypotonic solution
- Vanishing preservatives are safe but cheaper than having no preservative
Cons
- Multi-use bottle can be easily contaminated.
- A vanishing preservative is not a guaranteed no-preservative
Refresh tears
This eye drop is advertised as the # 1 doctor-recommended brand of artificial tears that brings immediate soothing relief to dry eyes. The different packages offer size variety to consumers. The twin (2 in 1) packs may help check contamination and other handling risks associated with a bigger bottle.
Though there is uproar about sensitivity or allergic reactions to preservatives in eye drops, the toxic reaction is highly dependent on the number of drops instilled in the eyes daily. Consumers who use drops less than four times a day may not be at high risk of reacting to the preservative, unless they are allergic to the specific preservative ingredient.
Refresh Tears Review
Pros
- Variety of sizes to choose from
- Twin pack minimizes handling risks
- Option to choose drops with or without preservative
- Drops with preservatives are less costly
Cons
- A few twin-pack products were recalled from the market
- Does not address osmolarity
Conclusion on Thera tears vs Refresh tears
Well, the jury needs to reach a verdict! Each brand has unique benefits. If Refresh tears didn’t have a twin pack as its smallest unit, I would probably have tried the product with a preservative, since I am here for a short time, I am on budget and I don’t think my eyes are sensitive. I may have to go with Thera tears 15ml and see which verdict my eyes will pass! With this, I rest the Thera tears vs. Refresh Tears debate.
FAQs on Thera tears vs Refresh tears – Which gets you in tears again!
What are Refresh eye drops used for?
Refresh tears is used for the temporary relief of irritation, burning, and discomfort caused by dry eyes or exposure to the wind or sun.
What Refresh eye drops are the best?
Different products are formulated to address specific aspects of the dry eye condition. Your choice of product will therefore depend on your symptoms and severity of the dry eye condition.
Can I use preservative-free eye drops with contacts?
Yes, for Fresh tears are preservative-free. You could alternatively use refresh contacts, specially designed for contact lenses. For Thera tears, the preservative can discolor the soft contact lens.
How many times a day can I use Refresh eye drops?
Use as many times as is necessary to bring you relief
Does Refresh tears clear red eye?
It is not clear whether Refresh tears specifically clear red eyes.