Optrex ActiMist 2in1 Eye Spray for Dry and Irritated Eyes 10ml

Optrex ActiMist 2in1 Eye Spray 10ml – a liposomal spray for dry and irritated eyes, applied to the closed eyelid.

  • Restores the lipid layer of the tear film, so tears evaporate less
  • Sprayed onto the closed eye – no drops into an open eye
  • For dry, gritty, tired or irritated eyes
  • Convenient over make-up and for people who dislike drops
  • Dispatched by a GPhC-registered UK pharmacy

£14.49

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Optrex ActiMist is a liposomal eye spray for dry and irritated eyes. Unlike a drop, it is sprayed onto the closed eyelid — the lipids travel down to the lid margin and your next blink spreads them across the eye’s surface, where they stabilise the oily outer layer of the tear film that stops tears evaporating too quickly.

What is Optrex ActiMist?

It is a liposomal spray — a fine mist of tiny lipid spheres suspended in liquid — supplied as a 10ml pump bottle. It is a medical device rather than a medicine: it works physically, by replacing the missing lipid layer, not pharmacologically.

Why a spray rather than a drop?

Most dry eye in the UK is evaporative: the watery part of the tear film is fine, but the thin oily layer on top — produced by the meibomian glands along the lid margin — is deficient, so tears evaporate faster than they are replaced. A conventional lubricating drop tops up the watery layer. ActiMist targets the lipid layer instead, which is the part that is actually missing in evaporative dry eye.

The delivery method follows from that. Sprayed onto closed lids, the lipids sit where the meibomian glands open and are then spread by a natural blink — the same route the eye uses itself. Practically, it also means no drop hitting the eye, which suits people who flinch at drops, and it can be applied without disturbing eye make-up. Follow the instructions on the pack regarding contact lenses.

What is Optrex ActiMist used for?

  • Dry, gritty or tired eyes, including from screen use, air conditioning and central heating
  • Irritated eyes that feel sore or scratchy through the day
  • Eyes that water paradoxically — reflex watering is a common sign of an unstable tear film
  • Dryness that gets worse in wind, on flights or in a dry office

It is not a treatment for eye infection, conjunctivitis or allergy. If your eyes are itchy and streaming in pollen season, an anti-allergy eye drop is the right product; if they are simply red from minor irritation, see Optrex Bloodshot Eye Drops.

How to use it

  • Shake the bottle before use and hold it about 10cm from the face.
  • Close your eye and spray onto the closed eyelid, as directed on the pack.
  • Blink a few times — blinking is what spreads the lipids across the eye’s surface.
  • Repeat for the other eye, and use through the day as needed per the pack instructions.
  • Note the discard-after-opening period stated on the pack.

It can be used alongside a lubricating drop if your eyes need both layers supported — the spray for the lipid layer and drops for the watery layer. Ask our pharmacist if you are unsure.

How long does it take to work?

Relief from an application is usually felt quickly, but dry eye is a chronic condition — the tear film needs consistent support. Use it regularly for a couple of weeks before judging it, and pair it with the things that actually reduce evaporation: blinking fully and often at a screen, the 20-20-20 habit, a warm compress on the lids if your glands are blocked, and getting the air moving less directly across your face.

ActiMist or eye drops — which do you need?

If your eyes feel dry and gritty and worsen in dry or windy conditions, the lipid layer is the likely problem and ActiMist targets it directly. If they feel dry because the eye simply is not producing enough tear volume, a sodium-hyaluronate drop such as Hylo-Forte or a trehalose-and-hyaluronate drop such as Thealoz Duo is the better fit. Many people with persistent dry eye end up using both. Browse the full eye care range.

When to get your eyes checked

See an optometrist or GP if dryness is persistent and not responding, if there is pain rather than discomfort, if vision is affected, or if one eye is much worse than the other. Persistent dry eye is worth diagnosing properly — blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction respond to specific lid treatment, and some medicines cause dryness as a side effect.

Buy Optrex ActiMist online

Bury Healthcare Online is a GPhC-registered UK pharmacy (registration 1126145). Our pharmacist can help you work out whether your dry eye is evaporative or tear-deficient, which is what decides between a spray and a drop.

Always read the instructions for use before applying. If symptoms do not improve, speak to your pharmacist, optometrist or doctor.

Medically reviewed by Hassan Khan, MPharm, Independent Prescriber — Superintendent Pharmacist, Bury Healthcare Online (GPhC-registered pharmacy 1126145). Last reviewed: July 2026.

Optrex ActiMist FAQs

How does Optrex ActiMist work?
It is a liposomal spray applied to the closed eyelid. The lipids travel down to the lid margin, and the next natural blink spreads them across the surface of the eye, where they stabilise and help restore the oily outer layer of the tear film. That lipid layer is what stops tears evaporating too quickly, and it is the layer that is deficient in evaporative dry eye.
Why do you spray it on a closed eye?
Because the lipid layer is produced at the lid margin, spraying onto the closed lid puts the lipids exactly where the eye’s own oil glands release theirs, and lets a normal blink distribute them. It also means nothing is dropped into the open eye, which suits people who dislike drops.
Is Optrex ActiMist better than eye drops for dry eyes?
It depends which part of the tear film is failing. ActiMist targets the lipid (oily) layer, so it suits evaporative dry eye – gritty eyes that worsen in wind, air conditioning or on screens. A lubricating drop tops up the watery layer, which suits tear-deficient dry eye. Many people with persistent dry eye use both.
Can I use ActiMist with contact lenses in?
Because it is applied to the closed eyelid rather than into the eye, it is more convenient than a drop for lens wearers – but follow the guidance on the pack for your lens type, and speak to your optician if you are unsure.
Can I use it over eye make-up?
It is sprayed onto the closed lid as a fine mist, so it is generally used without removing make-up. Check the pack instructions, and hold the bottle at the recommended distance so the mist is fine rather than wet.
How often can I use Optrex ActiMist?
Use it through the day as needed, following the frequency stated on the pack. Dry eye responds better to regular consistent use than to occasional use when symptoms peak.
Why do my eyes water if they are dry?
Watery eyes are one of the most common signs of dry eye. When the tear film is unstable and the surface of the eye is irritated, the gland producing the watery component over-compensates with a flood of reflex tears – which lack the lipid needed to stay put, so they run down the face instead of coating the eye.
Is Optrex ActiMist a medicine?
No, it is a medical device. It works physically, by replacing the missing lipid layer of the tear film, rather than through a pharmacological action. That is why it carries instructions for use rather than a patient information leaflet.
Will it help eyes that are dry from screen use?
Yes – screen use is a common trigger because we blink less than half as often when concentrating on a screen, and incomplete blinks fail to spread the lipid layer. ActiMist helps restore that layer, but pair it with deliberate full blinks and regular screen breaks, which address the cause.
When should I see an optometrist about dry eyes?
If dryness persists despite regular treatment, if there is pain rather than discomfort, if your vision is affected, or if one eye is clearly worse than the other. Blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction need specific lid treatment, and some medicines cause dryness as a side effect.

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