Optixcare is a line of over-the-counter veterinary eye care products made for CLC Medica and distributed in North America by Aventix Animal Health of Burlington, Ontario. The line splits into two very different jobs: lubricants (Optixcare Eye Lube and Eye Lube Plus), which are sterile gels that sit on the eye surface and hold moisture, and a cleaner (Optixcare Eye Cleaner), which is a rinse for wiping away crust, mucus and debris from around the eye. Neither is a medication — there is no antibiotic, no steroid and no tear-stimulating drug in any of them.
That distinction matters more than the brand name, and it’s the thing most product listings blur. A lubricant supplements a tear film that is thin or unstable. A cleaner removes gunk from the fur and lids. A dog with a corneal ulcer or an infection needs neither of those as a primary answer — it needs a veterinarian.
Quick answer: Optixcare Eye Lube is a sterile carbomer gel. Its label lists its indication as use as an eye lubricant during anesthesia and as adjunctive support to dry eyes. Optixcare Eye Lube Plus adds hyaluron to the same carbomer base and is labelled to help provide lubrication to promote and maintain eye comfort. Optixcare Eye Cleaner is a separate periocular rinse containing chamomile and sodium hyaluronate, labelled for removing secretions, sticky mucus and crusty debris, and for reducing tear staining. Follow your product label or your veterinarian’s direction for how and how often to use any of them.
What exactly is in each Optixcare product?
These are the ingredient lists exactly as they appear on the published product labelling (Animalytix/Drugs.com veterinary label database, updated May 2026). No Optixcare lubricant lists a percentage strength for its hyaluron content, so any article quoting one is guessing.
| Product | Form | Label indication (verbatim summary) | Ingredients as listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optixcare Eye Lube | Sterile carbomer gel, 20 g tube | “For use as an eye lubricant during anesthesia and as adjunctive support to dry eyes.” | Deionized Water, Sorbitol, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Cetrimide |
| Optixcare Eye Lube Plus | Sterile dual-polymer gel (carbomer + hyaluronic acid), 20 g tube | “Helps provide lubrication to promote and maintain eye comfort.” | Deionized Water, Sorbitol, Carbomer, Hyaluron, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Cetrimide |
| Optixcare Eye Cleaner | Aqueous rinse, 100 mL bottle | Helps remove ocular secretions, sticky mucus, crusty debris and irritants; soothes irritated eyes; aids in reducing or removing tear staining and facial fold odours | Deionized water, PEG 80, polysorbate 80, sodium hyaluronate, sodium citrate, disodium EDTA, sodium chloride, sodium perborate, chamomilla recutita |
A few things worth flagging from those lists. Cetrimide is a quaternary ammonium preservative, which is why the lubricant tubes are sterile until opened and why the label instructs that an opened tube be discarded after a set period — check the tube. Sodium perborate in the cleaner is an oxygen-releasing preservative, not a bleach in the household sense; the manufacturer markets the cleaner as made without peroxide, antibiotics, bleaches or boric acid. And the gel lubricants are not the same product as the cleaner — the cleaner is a facial and periocular rinse, not a tear supplement.
Which one does your dog actually need?
| If the problem is… | The category that fits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Thick brown or reddish crust in the fur below the eye, eye itself looks normal | Cleaner | Staining and crust are a fur-and-skin problem, not a tear-film problem |
| Chronically dull, dry-looking eye with ropy grey mucus, worse in the morning | Lubricant — with a vet diagnosis first | Merck’s manual describes continuous mucoid exudation, most evident in the morning, as typical of chronic dry eye |
| Eye held shut, dog rubbing or pawing at it | Neither — vet today | Squinting is a pain sign and can mean ulceration |
| Scheduled surgery, vet asks you to bring a lubricant | Lubricant | Anesthesia suppresses blinking and tear production; the Eye Lube label names this use explicitly |
| Visible blue-grey haze over the eye, or a change in how the dog navigates | Neither — vet urgently | Corneal oedema and sudden vision change are not lubricant problems |
If you’re weighing up formats more broadly, our breakdown of over-the-counter eye drops for dogs covers how gels, solutions and ointments differ in contact time, and what a dog eye wash can and can’t do goes deeper on rinses specifically.
Does the hyaluron in Eye Lube Plus do anything measurable?
This is the one place where the marketing claim has real research behind it — with limits worth stating plainly.
Hyaluronic acid is used in tear supplements because it binds water and resists being blinked away quickly. In a 2024 fluorophotometric study in Veterinary Research Communications, Grego and colleagues applied cross-linked hyaluronic acid, linear hyaluronic acid and plain saline to 70 eyes of 35 healthy dogs and imaged ocular surface coverage over time. Saline was undetectable on the surface by 45 minutes; linear hyaluronic acid by 120 minutes; the cross-linked form remained in contact with the ocular surface for up to 180 minutes (PMID 39347917). That is a direct, measured demonstration that a hyaluronic-acid carrier outlasts saline on a dog’s eye — and also that not all hyaluronic acid behaves the same, since the cross-linked and linear forms diverged sharply.
A 2026 study in Veterinary Ophthalmology looked at a different endpoint. Faghihi and Rajaei measured tear film osmolality in 40 healthy brachycephalic dogs, split into four groups: three received one drop of a different sodium hyaluronate formulation, the fourth sterile water. Measured ten minutes later, all three hyaluronate groups showed a statistically significant fall in osmolality (p = 0.016, 0.021 and 0.038); the sterile-water group did not. The formulation containing 0.4% sodium hyaluronate produced the largest effect, a 53.4 mOsm/L drop (PMID 41954352). Those are the concentrations used in that study, not a recommendation — and the dogs were healthy, not diagnosed with dry eye, which the authors themselves name as a limitation.
Earlier, Williams and Mann ran a masked, randomised comparison in dogs with a clinical diagnosis of dry eye, published in PLoS ONE in 2014. A cross-linked hyaluronic acid hydrogel improved conjunctival hyperaemia, ocular irritation and ocular discharge significantly more than a standard hyaluronic-acid-containing tear supplement (P = 0.0003), and owners rated it more effective (P = 0.0024). PMID 24914681. Note the declared conflict of interest: one author was employed by, and held stock in, the company that developed the hydrogel tested.
Read together, that body of work supports a modest, honest claim: hyaluronic-acid-containing lubricants may support a longer-lasting, more comfortable ocular surface than saline alone. It does not establish that Optixcare Eye Lube Plus specifically outperforms other hyaluron-containing lubricants. No published head-to-head trial of Optixcare against a named competitor appears in the veterinary literature, and Aventix does not disclose the hyaluron concentration or molecular form in Eye Lube Plus, which makes comparison to the studied formulations impossible.
What a lubricant cannot do
This is where owners lose time, and where lost time costs corneas.
- It does not make a dog produce more tears. The Merck Veterinary Manual is explicit that tear production is increased by lacrimogenics — topical cyclosporine, tacrolimus, pimecrolimus — all of which are prescription drugs your veterinarian selects and doses. A carbomer or hyaluron gel replaces tears; it doesn’t restore the gland.
- It does not treat infection. There is no antimicrobial ingredient in any Optixcare lubricant. Cetrimide preserves the tube; it isn’t treating the eye.
- It does not heal an ulcer, and applying a gel to an undiagnosed painful eye can mask worsening signs. Merck notes corneal ulceration may occur in dry eye — which is exactly why the diagnosis has to come first. Our guide to corneal ulcers in dogs describes what those look like.
- It does not diagnose. Dry eye is confirmed with a Schirmer tear test, a strip of graded paper your vet places in the lower lid for a timed period. It takes about a minute and costs very little. Nothing you buy over the counter substitutes for that number.
- It does not fix tear staining at the source. Staining is usually about tear overflow and fur, not tear deficiency — a different problem entirely, covered in our piece on why dogs get tear stains.
Common mistakes with Optixcare and products like it
Touching the tube tip to the eye or fur. The label warns against this explicitly, because the contents are sterile only until contaminated. A contaminated tube applied twice daily to an already-compromised eye is a genuine risk, not a formality.
Keeping an opened tube indefinitely. The Optixcare package insert carries a discard-after-opening instruction — the manufacturer’s stated figure is 60 days. Check the tube and insert you have and follow those rather than a generic expiry date on the carton.
Using the cleaner as a tear supplement. The Eye Cleaner is a periocular rinse with a preservative system built for a bottle you touch to fur, not a sterile ocular gel. They are not interchangeable.
Treating a red eye as “allergies” for weeks. Redness with discharge has several causes that look alike to the naked eye and diverge sharply in urgency — our comparison of dog eye allergies versus infection walks through the distinguishing signs.
Expecting a fast visible change. In chronic dry eye, Merck describes canine cases as generally requiring lifetime topical treatment, and notes that when topical cyclosporine is used, reassessment happens on a timescale of months, not days. A lubricant improves comfort between doses of whatever your vet prescribes; it is not a course of treatment that ends.
Realistic expectations
A lubricant’s effect is measured in how the eye looks and behaves between applications — less ropy discharge, less squinting into wind, a glossier corneal surface. The retention data above suggests a hyaluronic-acid gel stays put meaningfully longer than saline, which is the mechanism behind that comfort. What you should not expect is a change in the underlying tear volume, a resolution of pigment or vascularisation already present on the cornea, or an end to the need for prescription therapy if your dog has immune-mediated dry eye. If signs are unchanged or worse after the period your veterinarian set, that’s a reason to go back, not to double up.
When to call your vet
Stop reaching for over-the-counter products and book an appointment if you see any of the following:
- Squinting, blepharospasm or pawing at the eye — pain signals, and a common presentation of corneal ulceration
- Cloudiness, a blue-grey haze, or any change in the clarity of the eye surface
- Coloured discharge — green, yellow or frankly purulent, as opposed to clear or grey-white mucus
- Sudden change in vision — bumping into furniture, hesitancy on stairs, reluctance in dim light
- A red, swollen mass at the inner corner — this may be prolapse of the third eyelid gland; Merck notes that complete excision of that gland predisposes 30–40% of dogs to later dry eye, so surgical approach matters.
- Any eye sign in a dog already on eye medication that seems to be getting worse
Also call if your dog’s eye discomfort appears on one side only with a dry nostril on the same side — Merck describes that pattern as typical of neurogenic dry eye, which is managed differently from the common immune-mediated form.
Frequently asked questions
Is Optixcare a prescription product?
No. Optixcare Eye Lube, Eye Lube Plus and Eye Cleaner are over-the-counter veterinary products. They contain no antibiotic, steroid or tear-stimulating drug. The lubricant labels state they are for animal use only and direct you to consult your veterinarian if the animal shows discomfort or irritation.
What’s the difference between Optixcare Eye Lube and Eye Lube Plus?
The Plus version adds hyaluron to the same carbomer base. Both label ingredient lists are otherwise identical. The manufacturer describes Eye Lube Plus as a dual polymer system containing carbomer gel and hyaluronic acid. The plain Eye Lube label names anesthesia and adjunctive support to dry eyes as its indications; the Plus label states it helps provide lubrication to promote and maintain eye comfort.
Can I use Optixcare on a cat or a horse?
The published labels for all three products list cats, dogs and horses as applicable species. Dosing and suitability for an individual animal is still a conversation with your veterinarian.
Will Optixcare Eye Cleaner remove tear stains?
The label claims it aids in reducing or removing tear staining and facial fold odours, and directs a twice-daily application period followed by maintenance use — follow the label. Understand what it’s doing: cleaning stained fur, not changing why the tears are overflowing.
Does Optixcare treat dog eye infections?
No. There is no antimicrobial ingredient in the Optixcare lubricants, and the cleaner is explicitly marketed as antibiotic-free. Eye infections in dogs are diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian.
How long can I keep a tube after opening it?
The Optixcare lubricant labelling carries an instruction to discard the opened tube after a defined period; the manufacturer’s package insert states 60 days. Read the tube and insert you have and follow those, since packaging revisions happen.
References
- Hamor RE. Nasolacrimal and Lacrimal Apparatus in Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual (Merck & Co., Rahway NJ). Full review February 2023; last updated July 2026. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/eye-diseases-and-disorders/ophthalmology/nasolacrimal-and-lacrimal-apparatus-in-animals
- Whelan N. Tear Stimulants and Immunosuppressants in Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual (Merck & Co., Rahway NJ). Full review October 2021; last updated November 2025. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/pharmacology/systemic-pharmacotherapeutics-of-the-eye/tear-stimulants-and-immunosuppressants-in-animals
- Williams DL, Mann BK. Efficacy of a crosslinked hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel as a tear film supplement: a masked controlled study. PLoS ONE. 2014;9(6):e99766. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099766. PMID: 24914681. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4051774/
- Grego AL, Fankhauser AD, Behan EK, et al. Comparative fluorophotometric evaluation of the ocular surface retention time of cross-linked and linear hyaluronic acid ocular eye drops on healthy dogs. Veterinary Research Communications. 2024;48(6):4191–4199. DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10559-x. PMID: 39347917. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11259-024-10559-x
- Faghihi H, Rajaei SM. Immediate effect of three artificial tear formulations on tear film osmolality in brachycephalic dogs. Veterinary Ophthalmology. 2026;29(3):e70177. DOI: 10.1111/vop.70177. PMID: 41954352. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41954352/
- Optixcare Eye Lube (Aventix) — product labelling, Animalytix/DVMetrics via Drugs.com. Updated 28 May 2026. https://www.drugs.com/vet/optixcare-eye-lube.html
- Optixcare Eye Lube Plus (Aventix) — product labelling, Animalytix/DVMetrics via Drugs.com. Updated 28 May 2026. https://www.drugs.com/vet/optixcare-eye-lube-plus.html
- Optixcare Eye Cleaner (Aventix) — product labelling, Animalytix/DVMetrics via Drugs.com. Updated 28 May 2026. https://www.drugs.com/vet/optixcare-eye-cleaner.html
- Optixcare Ophthalmic — manufacturer-authorised retailer listing reproducing the Optixcare ingredient lists, directions and package-insert notes. VetRxDirect. Accessed 20 September 2026. https://www.vetrxdirect.com/product/view/optixcare-eye-care-for-dogs-cats-otc
Veterinary disclaimer. This article is for general information and is not veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment. Dog Health Insider is independent and is not affiliated with Aventix Animal Health, CLC Medica or the Optixcare brand. Product descriptions reflect manufacturer labelling as published at the time of writing; labels change, so always read the packaging you have. Any eye sign in a dog — redness, discharge, squinting, cloudiness or changed vision — warrants examination by a licensed veterinarian before starting any over-the-counter product.