The Benefits of LUMIFY® Eye Drops for Redness Relief

Do you want brighter, whiter eyes? Over time, our eyes can start to look dull and less vibrant. Long days at work, extended periods on computers and cell phones, allergies and dry winter days can give our eyes a tired red look.

Fortunately, treatments are available to help relieve redness and irritation and give your eyes that brighter, whiter appearance. LUMIFY® Eye Drops by Bausch & Lomb are a clinically proven treatment to reduce redness for up to 8 hours, with results in as little as 1 minute without using harsh chemicals like bleach or dyes.

In this blog post, we will look at the science behind this product, how it works and its benefits.

Product Name: LUMIFY®

Company: Bausch & Lomb

Active Ingredient: Brimonidine tartrate (0.025%)

Purpose: Redness reliever

Inactive Ingredients: benzalkonium chloride, boric acid, calcium chloride dihydrate, glycerin, potassium chloride, sodium borate decahydrate, sodium chloride, water for injection. Hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide may be used to adjust pH.

How LUMIFY® Redness Reliever Eye Drops Work

LUMIFY® is an FDA-approved and now Health Canada-approved eye drop that contains brimonidine tartrate. This vasoconstrictor reduces the size of the veins in the conjunctiva (the thin membrane covering the white part of your eye), resulting in brighter, whiter eyes with little redness rebound and no tachyphylaxis.

The mechanism of action in LUMIFY® is very different from other over-the-counter red-eye products, such as tetrahydrozoline (Visine) or naphazoline (Clear Eyes). These general vasoconstrictors reduce the size of the arteries, which carry oxygen-rich blood to the eyes and the surrounding tissues. As a result, they reduce available oxygen and nutrients to the eye and produce a short duration of action with a significant redness rebound effect and tachyphylaxis (the progressive decrease in response to a given dose after repetitive use of a pharmacological substance).

Are LUMIFY® Eye Drops Preservative Free?

No. LUMIFY® uses benzalkonium chloride (BAK), a preservative in most over-the-counter and prescription eye drops. The concentration of BAK in LUMIFY is 0.01%, which is lower than the maximum 0.02% allowed by the FDA.

BAK, however, can cause dry eye when used too often. Therefore, it's important to talk with your optometrist about all eye drops you're using, both over-the-counter and prescription, to ensure that we are not causing BAK toxicity to your cornea.

Using BAK eye drops greater than 4 times per day for an extended period of time is known to exacerbate dry eye symptoms.

Do I Need a Prescription for LUMIFY®?

No. LUMIFY® is an over-the-counter eye drop, and it doesn't require a prescription from your eye doctor. However, you should see your optometrist before using LUMIFY® to ensure that there isn't another underlying cause of your red eyes.

There is no cost to you to seek the expert advice of your optometrist about your red eyes. Alberta Health Care covers the cost of all medically necessary eye health exams and ocular concerns to ensure that you are receiving the proper care and guidance.

If everything is okay, your optometrist may recommend trying a redness reliever product like LUMIFY®.

How Often Can I Use LUMIFY®?

You can instill one drop of LUMIFY® in each eye every 6-8 hours, but you should never exceed more than four (4) drops per day. As with any over-the-counter redness reliever, you should stop using it and see an eye doctor if you experience eye pain, changes in vision, redness or irritation that worsens, or redness that does not respond to the medication.

Because LUMIFY® uses BAK has a preservative, we recommend that our patients not use the product more than 2 times per day.

Can I Use LUMIFY® With Other Eye Drops?

Yes, but you need to wait at least 5 minutes between products.

Can I Use LUMIFY® if I Wear Contact Lenses?

Yes, but LUMIFY® should not be instilled over contact lenses. Please wait at least 10 minutes before putting your contact lenses back in.

Is LUMIFY® Safe to Use?

LUMIFY® is approved for use on all patients ages five (5) and older. Some common side effects include itching, foreign body sensation, tearing or pain which were temporary and mild to moderate in severity. In clinical trials, it showed no effect on eye pressure and pupil size.

Does LUMIFY® Actually Work?

Absolutely. We say it’s like PhotoShop or FaceTune for your eyes. In just a few minutes your eyes will look noticeably whiter.

Visit Your Edmonton Optometrist for LUMIFY.

LUMIFY® is an innovative new redness relief product that can quickly and safely reduce the appearance of red, tired, irritated eyes. Talk to your eye doctor about LUMIFY® during your next eye exam to ensure it's right for you. As with any medication, if you experience unpleasant side effects or you're not achieving the desired result, you should discontinue the product and see your eye doctor as soon as possible.