What's the difference between artificial tears and re-wetting drops?

Both deliver fluid to the eye surface, but the formulation differs:

• Artificial tears: water plus viscosity agents (carmellose, hyaluronic acid, hypromellose) plus salts to match tear osmolarity. Designed for dry-eye patients without lenses. Some are also lens-compatible — read the label.
• Re-wetting drops for contact lenses: water plus low-viscosity polymers chosen specifically not to cloud or deposit on contact lens materials. Often contain mild surfactants to prevent debris adherence on the lens.

For lens wearers:

• If you wear lenses 5+ days a week, keep a bottle of re-wetting drops with you. They double as a tear-replacement when your eyes are dry.
• If you also use artificial tears for non-lens days (or at night before bed), make sure they're a preservative-free option to avoid carry-over irritation.

Both browse here: eye drops and single-dose unidoses.