Sop, I'm a huge witchhazel fan too, but it's got alcohol in it so I'm not game to put it near my eyes.
The stuff Mum used to get didn't have alcohol in it, she used to make it herself, not using alcohol distillation.

I used to use the alcohol based stuff around my eyes all the time, only thing that would get my waterproof mascara off properly. Never had a problem with it being too drying.