Is it safe to use eyedrops straight from a plastic bottle every day?

What's actually in it

A standard eyedrop bottle is LDPE or polypropylene. Every squeeze flexes the plastic, and flexing releases microscopic particles into the liquid inside. The drop carries those particles along with the active ingredient. Eyes are one of the most absorbent tissues in the body and sit next to the brain through the optic nerve.

A daily artificial-tear user or a patient on long-term glaucoma drops gets dozens of doses a week. The plastic load adds up.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environ Sci Pollut Res Int tested commercial eyedrop products and detected microplastic contamination in almost every sample. The particles came from the bottle itself. Higher squeeze force (as with partially empty bottles or stiff plastic) released more.

For prescription drops there's no great workaround beyond using them as directed. For over-the-counter artificial tears, look for preservative-free single-use vials: the thin plastic units shed less per dose than a squeeze bottle, and they skip the BAK preservative too. Glass-bottled eyedrops are available for some formulations (pharmacies can order them) and sidestep the problem entirely. Storing bottles at room temperature instead of warm bathrooms reduces further plastic breakdown.