Are Clear Eyes Drops Safe For Dogs?

Are you wondering if Clear Eyes can help your dog?

Great question considering so many canines to have itchy, watery, red, dry or otherwise irritated eyes!

The truth is this:

It is possible to administer human eye drops, Clear Eyes included.

However, doing so may be the wrong approach for your dog. In fact, this idea could ultimately be harmful.

With so many different versions — each with various combinations of active and inactive ingredients — it may be best to steer clear of Clear Eyes.

Any dog with a sore or inflamed eye should be properly diagnosed and the right treatment would then be prescribed.

Clear Eyes Is Not Recommended For Dogs

Artificial tear drops are usually OK, but it really depends on what’s in the formula as well as your objective.

Rather than applying Clear Eyes, a sterile purified water product is optimal for cleaning and soothing your dog’s eyes due to, for example, irritation caused by dry mucous.

Clear Eyes Is Not a Fix

It cannot be stressed enough:

Certain ocular-related conditions require that you act with urgency. Do nothing, or take the easy or cheap course of action with Clear Eyes, and your dog could end up with permanent eye damage.

In other words, expertise is a must for what could be a super time-sensitive situation.

And the thing is such problems are often extremely difficult to spot.

A veterinarian will perform a direct examination of the eye in order to rule out something serious such as:

• Glaucoma
• An advanced corneal ulcer
• Any other type of infection of the eye

Heck, it could even be pink eye!

The point is a prescription antibiotic could be necessary. Certainly there are better options than a hit or miss approach with Clear Eyes.

Complicated Combo Ingredients

At last count Clear Eyes comes in at least 15 formulations. Prestige Brands, the parent company, breaks them down into the following categories:

• Itchy Eyes
• Dry Eyes
• Redness
• Multi-Symptom
• Preservative-Free
• Cooling Comfort
• Contacts

And here are the active ingredients across all their products:

• Glycerin 0.25% (Lubricant)
• Naphazoline Hydrochloride 0.012% (Redness Reliever)
• Naphazoline HCl 0.025% (Redness Reliever)
• Polyvinyl Alcohol 0.5% (Lubricant)
• Povidone 0.6% (Lubricant)
• Tetrahydrozoline 0.05% (Redness Relief)
• Phenylephrine Hydrochloride 0.10% (Redness Reliever)
• Hypromellose 0.30% (Lubricant)
• Polysorbate 80 0.50% (Lubricant)
• Zinc Sulfate 0.25% (Astringent)

There are so many combinations among all the Clear Eyes’ versions that one could easily argue the entire product line is questionable for dogs. 

When you think about it…

Matching up a best buddy’s eye treatment with their symptoms is key — and this could be tricky with so many choices and without guidance.

Not Toxic — Be Cautious Anyway

It is important to avoid putting the wrong cocktail of chemicals into your dog’s eye while that area is already vulnerable. 

It goes without saying you must closely read the label and scrutinize – not only for your dog’s safety but also to achieve effectiveness.

The good news:

None of the above-named ingredients in Clear Eyes are known to have toxicity (though that certainly doesn’t make these drops a solution).

Water Really Does Works Wonders

Using ordinary water, to flush it out whatever may be caught in your dog’s eye, is safer than a bottle of Clear Eyes sitting in your medicine cabinet.

For gunk build-up around the eye, an exceedingly moist towel is your friend. The wetter the better!

Watch this quick video for how to remove eye boogers…

The Bottom Line

While Clear Eyes typically won’t harm a dog, it is often not the ideal remedy.

Take your dog to a veterinarian if something is going on with their eye(s). Do not wait!

You can attend to your dog’s eyes. But, instead of Clear Eyes, use a safe pet-friendly product.

Anything beyond a routine cleansing should be left to a trained professional.

What Do You Think? Have Your Say Below…