Is eye cream essential?

I became curious about when I should start using eye cream.
People around me say that you should take care of your eyes before wrinkles form.
However, I am not sure if there is a big difference from regular cream.
I am wondering if eye cream is really a necessary step.
I was also told that a specialized product is needed because the skin around the eyes is thin.
In that case, I am also curious about which ingredients I should use as a basis for selection.
I find myself wondering if the number of products is just increasing for no reason.
I would also like to know if there are actually any changes when using eye cream consistently.