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Blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), and dry eye syndrome affect 30 million Americans. Due to this staggering amount of people that need help with eyelid disease, a flood of new products have come to the market in recent years.
We have used many eyelid hygiene products and have found a hypochlorous acid eyelid cleanser to be the most effective in relieving dry eye, blepharitis, and MGD symptoms.
Here, I compare two popular hypochlorous acid eyelid hygiene products on their ability to clean eyelids and help soothe eyelid disorders and dryness.
Released in June 2017, Heyedrate Lid & Lash Cleanser is one of the first over-the-counter hypochlorous acid eyelid cleansers, with comparable ingredients to Avenova below.
This natural, non-detergent based spray is perfect for deep cleaning the skin and mucous membranes, which in turn makes it great for soothing any skin irritation you have. Clean eyelids from the use of a hypochlorous acid solution, like Heyedrate, help fight blepharitis, styes, dry eyes, meibomian gland dysfunction, redness, swelling, burning, itching, and crustiness of the eyelid margin.
This is currently my "go-to" product for my patients in clinic. It is very gentle and I have had great success with my patients.
Avenova is the first prescription, FDA-approved, non-detergent based, non-antibiotic product shown to be successful in the treatment of such common eye conditions as blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction, and associated dry eye syndrome.
I used this in my clinic for over two years and had great results. I now use the Heyedrate Lid & Lash Cleanser, due to a lower price and the fact that it is over-the-counter and my patients can purchase online with ease, like on Amazon. Easier purchasing ability means better compliance.
Overall, Avenova is a great product and we always recommend that if your doctor has prescribed it for you and it's working, you continue using it.
Avenova Reviews
Avenova is a hypochlorous acid eyelid cleanser. There are quite a few similar cleansers on the market, although the way Avenova is manufactured makes it unique when compared to many of them. While many others use small amounts of sodium hypochlorite in their formula, a byproduct of bleach, Avenova does not. Another alternative that does not use sodium hypochlorite is Heyedrate Lid and Lash Cleanser.
Although Avenova was available only with a prescription or through your doctor’s office for years, it is now available on Amazon in the 20mL variety. You can still get the 40mL through your doctor’s office or pharmacy.
At this time, there is no generic for Avenova, although there are many other similar alternatives on the market.
With a prescription but without insurance, 40mL Avenova will cost around $300 at your pharmacy. You can purchase the 20mL version on Amazon for around $30, although you are unable to use any insurance benefits to pay for this.
Have you tried either Avenova or Heyedrate? Let me know your experience in the comments below!
One Love,
Dr. Jenna Zigler
SeeOO of Eye Love
Director of the Dry Eye Syndrome Support Community
I have just begun trying Avenova as recommended by my eye doctor. I’m glad there is a less costly alternative. I do wonder about the formula because it smells like bleach even though it is not supposed to contain it. I also wonder why it should be discarded after 30 days when it is in a sealed container that doesn’t touch the eye or eyelids, simply sprays.
Hey Alice. Yes, unfortunately Avenova is very expensive. That is the exact reason Drs Jenna and Travis wanted to develop the Heyedrate Lid & LAsh Cleanser spray to provide patients with something that works yet is actually affordable. We hope you gave our spray a chance to help with your symptoms! Good luck.
One Love,
Ashley v – operations manager
I found your article while searching for the product Avenova that my eye doctor gave me a prescription for and a coupon. When my pharmacy, Costco, told me the price I couldn’t believe it. To make matters worse, I couldn’t use the coupon because I am on Medicare and after appealing their denial and still being denied my insurance benefits I am back to square one. I have been diagnosed with Blepharitis and for the last four years I have been suffering with numerous styles and hordeums. I have tried everything prescribed and not prescribed to try and get rid of this. I am obsessive in my personal hygiene and have also thrown away hundreds of dollars in make up and brushes. I would like to request that before any doctor talks about or recommends the Avenova products to any Medicare patient that they advise them first of the ridiculously high price of this product. Yes, I want to get rid of this awful issue with my eyes but not all people retire millionaires and can afford these prices!
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Heather
December 16, 2019
Hey Lindy, thank you for your question about Avenova. Hypochlorous acid is the active ingredient in both Avenova and our Heyedrate Lid and Lash spray. HOCl is the main antibacterial agent in pool chlorine and it is also what gives chlorine its smell. There is no bleach in Avenova or Heyedrate.
One Love,
Heather
Chief Happiness Officer
Eye Love, LLC