Can regular use of eye drops be harmful?

Apparently eye drop abuse can lead to glaucoma.

However, I wouldn’t consider using eye drops as directed to be abuse.

For example, these directions for using Visine, advise stopping usage if the condition worsens or lasts for more than 72 hours.

I’ve always read that name brands like Murine and Visine can be harmful over time so now I use Walgreen’s eyewash, which I understand is much safer.

Questions such as this send me to WebMD, which listed no serious issues, so I don’t think I’d worry overmuch.

One thing did stand out, though, regarding ‘sharing’ of eye drops, particularly with people who may have contagious infections such as pinkeye (a condition for which eye drops are the normal treatment). So there’s that.

What kind of eye drops?

Personally, I would avoid regular use if at all possible. Many of the people I know believe that use of lip balm is self-perpetuating, meaning that the more you use it, the more you need to use it. It softens up sub-layers of tissue and generally makes your lips more sensitive.
I would be afraid that regular use of any similar type products would have the same effect.

First, if you’re having trouble with dry eyes and you do not wear contact lenses – go to an eye doctor.
If you notice that your eyes are extra dry seemingly most of your waking hours -again, go to your eye doctor.
If you notice larger ‘floaters’ or what looks like a big piece of fuzz on your eye surface- RUN to an Ophthalmologist. ASAP. You may be in a serious eye situation where you will lose vision permanently. Do not wait or put it off until you have the greenage$ or time.
If you are one to imbibe in feastive activities which cause your eyes to become bloodshot – do not, again do not, use Visine. In effect, what Visine does is to take those little blood vessels that come to the surface of your eyeball as if there were two grips on either side of the red vein that snaps the vein taut. That is what makes it disappear from the surface of the whites of your eyes. If you repeatedly use Visine the ‘Snap’ it causes the vessels becomes weaker and weaker because the blood vessels themselves are being damaged. Visine is a no-no.
If you’re using ‘wetting’ drops for your eyes surface because of dry eye, check with your doctor if you have the condition known as, again; dry eye. It is a condition easily cared for. ( Read or ask side effects to various remedies. Only you know your allergies and familial optical history.)
Are you on any allergy medication that has sometimes caused the overdrying effect for the sinuses and seems to just keep on going through to your peepers? Read fine print of RX directions for side-effects.
Are you sitting in some sort of a draft or stream of air as you go about your day that dries your eyes?
Please.
Have a care with these types of situations.
Strongest suggestion – go see an eye doctor to find out a definitive answer.
It would suck to ignore something and lose vision over a simple situation that could’ve been rectified easily and painlessly.

By the way, Eye doctors – Ophthalmologists- are not the same thing as those who fit frames and sell contacts. Or: Optometrists.
Don’t laugh. There are a lot of people who believe that they are the same thing.
Sorry. Familial involvement in the fields. Baby those visual enablers…