Quick answers
- What is Carboxymethylcellulose and glycerin used for?
- The Drug Facts label of Refresh Tears Pf (Allergan, Inc.) lists these uses: For the temporary relief of burning, irritation, and discomfort due to dryness of the eye or exposure to wind or sun. May be used as a protectant against further irritation.
- Do I need a prescription for Carboxymethylcellulose and glycerin?
- No. The products on this page are sold without a prescription (over the counter).
- Is a store brand the same as the name brand?
- Products listed together below have the same active ingredients, in the same amount and the same form, as registered with the FDA. Inactive ingredients (such as colors, flavors and fillers) and package sizes can differ. Compare the “Active ingredient” box on both packages, and ask a pharmacist if you are not sure.
- Has Carboxymethylcellulose and glycerin been recalled?
- FDA enforcement reports list 1 recall of products on this page; the newest started December 30, 2020. A recall usually concerns specific products or lots, not every brand.
Drug Facts label
Every over-the-counter medicine must carry a “Drug Facts” box in the same order, set by FDA rules. Below is the label of one product for each common strength and form, quoted word for word. Your own package can differ (for example, children’s products have other directions): always follow the label on your package.
Refresh Tears Pf · Allergan, Inc.
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 5 mg/mL · Glycerin 9 mg/mL, solution/ drops (ophthalmic)
Active ingredient
s Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 0.5% Glycerin 0.9%
Purpose
Eye lubricant Eye lubricant
Uses
For the temporary relief of burning, irritation, and discomfort due to dryness of the eye or exposure to wind or sun. May be used as a protectant against further irritation.
Warnings
For external use only. To avoid contamination, do not touch tip of container to any surface. Replace cap after using. If solution changes color or becomes cloudy , do not use.
Stop use and ask a doctor if
you experience eye pain, changes in vision, continued redness or irritation of the eye, or if the condition worsens or persists for more than 72 hours.
Keep out of reach of children
If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.
Directions
Prior to first use, please read the “Instructions For Use” inside this carton. Instill 1 or 2 drops in the affected eye(s) as needed.
Other information
Use only if tape seals on top and bottom flaps are intact. Use before expiration date marked on container. Discard 90 days after opening. Store at 59°-77°F (15°-25°C). RETAIN THIS CARTON AND THE INSERT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
Inactive ingredients
Boric acid; calcium chloride dihydrate; erythritol; levocarnitine; magnesium chloride hexahydrate; potassium chloride; purified water; sodium borate decahydrate; and sodium citrate dihydrate.
Questions?
1.800. 6 78 . 1605 refresh eyedrops .com v3.0DFL3110
— FDA label of Refresh Tears Pf, Allergan, Inc., effective April 24, 2026. See the official label on DailyMed →
Equate Lubricant Eye Drops · Hanlim
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 0.5% · Glycerin 0.9%, solution/ drops (ophthalmic)
Active ingredient
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 0.5% Glycerin 0.9%
Purpose
Lubricant
Uses
- for use as a protectant against further irritation or to relieve dryness of the eye.
- for temporary relief of burning, irritation, and discomfort due to dryness of the eye or exposure to wind or sun.
Warnings
For external use only
Do not use
this product if
- solution changes color or becomes cloudy
When using this product
- do not touch lip of container to any surface to avoid contamination
- replace cap after using
- remove contact lenses before using
Stop use and ask a doctor if
you experience
- eye pain
- changes in vision
- continued redness or irritation
- condition worsens or persists for more than72hours
Keep out of reach of children
If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) right away.
Directions
Instill 1 to 2 drops in the affected eye(s) as needed.
Inactive ingredients
benzalkonium chloride, boric acid, calcium chloride hydrate (dihydrate) magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium borate, sodium citrate hydrate, water for injection
— FDA label of Equate Lubricant Eye Drops, Hanlim, effective December 22, 2025. See the official label on DailyMed →
Refresh RELIEVA PF · Allergan, Inc.
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 5 mg/mL · Glycerin 10 mg/mL, solution/ drops (ophthalmic)
Active ingredient
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 0.5% Glycerin 1.0%
Purpose
Eye lubricant Eye lubricant
Uses
For the temporary relief of burning, irritation, and discomfort due to dryness of the eye or exposure to wind or sun. May be used as a protectant against further irritation.
Warnings
For external use only. To avoid contamination, do not touch tip of container to any surface. Do not reuse. Once opened, discard. Do not touch unit-dose tip to eye. If solution changes color or becomes cloudy , do not use.
Stop use and ask a doctor if
you experience eye pain, changes in vision, continued redness or irritation of the eye, or if the condition worsens or persists for more than 72 hours.
Keep out of reach of children
If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.
Directions
To open, TWIST AND PULL TAB TO REMOVE. Instill 1 or 2 drops in the affected eye(s) as needed and discard container *Follow your eye doctor’s instructions if you are using this product after an eye surgery (e.g., LASIK) to relieve eye dryness and discomfort.
Other information
Use only if single-use container is intact. Use before expiration date marked on container. Store at 59°-77°F (15°-25°C). Protect from sunlight. RETAIN THIS CARTON FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
Inactive ingredients
Calcium chloride dihydrate; erythritol; levocarnitine; magnesium chloride hexahydrate; potassium chloride; purified water; sodium lactate; and sodium hyaluronate. May contain hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide (to adjust pH).
Questions?
refresheyedrops.com v2.0DFL4515 Telephone icon and phone number
— FDA label of Refresh RELIEVA PF, Allergan, Inc., effective August 22, 2025. See the official label on DailyMed →
REFRESH OPTIVE Drops · Allergan, Inc.
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 10 mg/mL · Glycerin 9 mg/mL, solution/ drops (ophthalmic)
Active ingredient
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 1% Glycerin 0.9%
Purpose
Eye lubricant Eye lubricant
Uses
For the temporary relief of burning, irritation, and discomfort due to dryness of the eye or exposure to wind or sun. May be used as a protectant against further irritation.
Warnings
For external use only. To avoid contamination, do not touch tip of container to any surface. Replace cap after using. If solution changes color or becomes cloudy, do not use.
Stop use and ask a doctor if
you experience eye pain, changes in vision, continued redness or irritation of the eye, or if the condition worsens or persists for more than 72 hours.
Keep out of reach of children
If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.
Directions
Instill 1 or 2 drops in the affected eye(s) as needed.
Other information
Use only if tape seals on top and bottom flaps are intact. Use before expiration date marked on container. Discard 90 days after opening. Store at 59°-77°F (15°-25°C). RETAIN THIS CARTON FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
Inactive ingredients
Boric acid; calcium chloride dihydrate; erythritol; levocarnitine; magnesium chloride hexahydrate; potassium chloride; purified water; PURITE® (stabilized oxychloro complex); sodium borate decahydrate; and sodium citrate dihydrate.
Questions?
1.800.678.1605 r efresh eyedrops .com v2.0DFL5459
— FDA label of REFRESH OPTIVE Drops, Allergan, Inc., effective September 15, 2025. See the official label on DailyMed →
C-More Lubricant Eye Drops · Profound Nutrition Limited
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium, unspecified 0.3% · Glycerin 1%, solution/ drops (ophthalmic)
Active ingredient
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 0.3% Glycerin 1%
Purpose
Lubricant
Uses
for use as a lubricant to prevent further irritation or to relieve dryness of the eye
Warnings
For external use only
Do not use
- if solution changes color or becomes cloudy
- for children under the age of 12
When using this product
- to avoid contamination, do not touch tip of container to any surface
- replace cap after using
Stop use and ask a doctor if
you experience eye pain, changes in vision, continued redness or irritation of the eye, or if the condition worsens or persists for more than 72 hours
Keep out of reach of children
If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.
Directions
- instill 1 or 2 drops in the affected eye(s) as needed
- do not exceed 4 drops per eye daily unless directed by a physician
- use the solution within one month after opening the container
Inactive ingredients
benzyl alcohol, boric acid, n-acetylcarnosine, potassium bicarbonate, water for injection
Questions?
+1-800-814-7385 You may also report serious side effects to this phone number.
— FDA label of C-More Lubricant Eye Drops, Profound Nutrition Limited, effective June 1, 2026. See the official label on DailyMed →
This page is not medical advice. Read the label on your package, and ask a pharmacist or doctor if you are not sure a medicine is right for you, for your child, or with your other medicines.
Same medicine, other brands
Each group lists the products that have exactly the same active ingredients, in the same amount and form, as registered with the FDA (NDC Directory). A store brand in the same group has the same medicine as the name brand; inactive ingredients, flavors and package sizes can differ. Each product links to its own official label.
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 5 mg/mL · Glycerin 9 mg/mL · solution/ drops (ophthalmic) · 8 products
Drug Facts for this strength and form ↑
| Brand or product name | Company on the label | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Medics Choice Fresh and Soothe | KC Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | DailyMed |
| Medics Choice Fresh and Soothe | Unimed | DailyMed |
| Refresh Optive | Allergan, Inc. | DailyMed |
| Refresh Relieva | Allergan, Inc. | DailyMed |
| Refresh Relieva PF Xtra | Allergan, Inc. | DailyMed |
| Refresh Relieva Preservative Free | Allergan, Inc. | DailyMed |
| Refresh Tears Pf | Allergan, Inc. | DailyMed |
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 0.5% · Glycerin 0.9% · solution/ drops (ophthalmic) · 3 products
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 5 mg/mL · Glycerin 10 mg/mL · solution/ drops (ophthalmic) · 2 products
Drug Facts for this strength and form ↑
| Brand or product name | Company on the label | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Refresh RELIEVA PF | Allergan, Inc. | DailyMed |
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 5 mg/mL · Glycerin 3 mg/mL · solution (ophthalmic) · 2 products
| Brand or product name | Company on the label | Label |
|---|---|---|
| VitaPhyte Lubricant Eye Drops | Guangzhou Liyan Cosmetics Technology Co., Ltd. | — |
| VitaPhyte Lubricating Eye Drops | Guangzhou Liyan Cosmetics Technology Co., Ltd. | — |
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium 10 mg/mL · Glycerin 9 mg/mL · solution/ drops (ophthalmic) · 1 product
Drug Facts for this strength and form ↑
| Brand or product name | Company on the label | Label |
|---|---|---|
| REFRESH OPTIVE Drops | Allergan, Inc. | DailyMed |
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium, unspecified 0.3% · Glycerin 1% · solution/ drops (ophthalmic) · 1 product
Drug Facts for this strength and form ↑
| Brand or product name | Company on the label | Label |
|---|---|---|
| C-More Lubricant Eye Drops | Profound Nutrition Limited | DailyMed |
What pharmacies pay (NADAC)
The National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) is the average price U.S. retail pharmacies paid to buy one unit of a medicine (one tablet, one mL or one gram), from a monthly survey of pharmacy invoices by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). State Medicaid programs use it to pay pharmacies.
This is not the price you pay. What you pay depends on your insurance (copay or coinsurance), your pharmacy and any discounts, and pharmacies also charge for filling a prescription. Ask your pharmacist or your health plan what your price will be.
| Strength and form | Generic or brand | Pharmacies pay |
|---|---|---|
| carboxymethylcellulose sodium 10 mg/mL · glycerin 9 mg/mL solution/ drops | Brand: REFRESH OPTIVE Drops | $1.10 per mL |
| carboxymethylcellulose sodium 5 mg/mL · glycerin 10 mg/mL solution/ drops | Brand: Refresh RELIEVA PF | $0.4530 per unit |
| carboxymethylcellulose sodium 5 mg/mL · glycerin 9 mg/mL solution/ drops | Brand: Refresh Optive | $0.3415 per unit |
| carboxymethylcellulose sodium 5 mg/mL · glycerin 9 mg/mL solution/ drops | Brand: Refresh Optive | $0.6590 per mL |
| carboxymethylcellulose sodium 5 mg/mL · glycerin 9 mg/mL solution/ drops | Brand: Refresh Relieva | $1.09 per mL |
| carboxymethylcellulose sodium 5 mg/mL · glycerin 9 mg/mL solution/ drops | Brand: Refresh Relieva PF Xtra | $1.25 per mL |
| carboxymethylcellulose sodium 5 mg/mL · glycerin 9 mg/mL solution/ drops | Brand: Refresh Relieva Preservative Free | $1.25 per mL |
| carboxymethylcellulose sodium 5 mg/mL · glycerin 9 mg/mL solution/ drops | Brand: Refresh Tears Pf | $1.25 per mL |
NADAC list of November 4, 2026; these prices took effect on October 21, 2026. Shown only where a package’s NDC code matches the NADAC list exactly, and only for that exact strength and form: nothing is averaged across strengths. Strengths and forms not listed here have no NADAC price.
Source: NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) 2026, data.medicaid.gov (CMS) →
Companies that sell this medicine
The company named on the package (maker or distributor), as listed in the FDA NDC Directory, with its number of over-the-counter products of this medicine.
- Allergan, Inc.9 products
- Guangzhou Liyan Cosmetics Technology Co., Ltd.2 products
- Walmart1 product
- Unimed1 product
- Hanlim1 product
- KC Pharmaceuticals, Inc.1 product
- Walmart, Inc.1 product
- Profound Nutrition Limited1 product
Recalls
From FDA enforcement reports, matched by the product’s NDC code or label. A recall usually covers specific products or lots: check the name and lot number on your package.
-
December 30, 2020 · Class II · Terminated · D-0233-2021
Labeling: Missing instructions for use insert
Refresh Relieva PF Preservative-Free Lubricant Eye Drops 0.33 fl oz (10 mL) Sterile Distributed by: Allergan, an AbbVie company Madison, NJ 07940 UPC 3 00236 63410 0, NDC 0023-6634-10. — Allergan, PLC.
Next steps
- Find a pharmacy near youA pharmacist can answer questions about this label
- RefreshBrand page: products, maker and price
- Latest FDA drug recallsPrescription and over-the-counter, newest first
- All over-the-counter medicinesSearch by ingredient, brand or Spanish name
Sources
- Drug labeling (SPL, openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
- NDC Directory (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
- Drug recall enforcement reports (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 27, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
- FDA rule for the Drug Facts label (21 CFR 201.66)
Only medicines marketed under FDA rules for nonprescription drugs (an FDA monograph or an FDA approval) are listed. Homeopathic products are not listed: the FDA does not evaluate them for safety or effectiveness.