- When your eyes are red or otherwise bothersome, you probably reach for a bottle of eye drops. And like with most over-the-counter (OTC) products, there are many types of redness relief eye drops to choose from. Clear Eyes, Visine, and Lumify are all over-the-counter eye drops designed to relieve temporary eye redness, but they differ in their active ingredients and how they work. So which is the best redness relief eye drop for you? Is Lumify better than Clear Eyes? Is Clear Eyes the same as Visine? Lumify vs Visine redness relief eye drops: which is better? What are the side effects of these redness relief eye drops? Read on and this article is complete with a brief review of three brands and how the redness relief eye drops fare. You should have a fairly good idea about them after reading this article and then choosing either will likely be easier then.
Clear Eyes vs. Visine vs. Lumify Redness Relief Eye Drops Overview
1.Clear Eyes Redness Relief Eye Drops
Product details: Clear Eyes Redness Relief Eye Drops provide relief for eye redness and up to 12 hours of soothing comfort. The eye drops soothe and moisturize eyes and relieve redness, burning, and irritation. Using the eye drops will help to protect against future irritation. To use Redness Relief eye drops, instill 1 to 2 drops in the affected eye(s) up to four times daily. As the #1-selling brand of eye drops, Clear Eyes® has provided consumers with a line of OTC eye drops for relief of a range of conditions including allergies, redness, itchiness, and irritation.
Key Features:
Relieves redness due to minor irritations
Helps protect against further irritations
Soothes and moisturizes to relieve redness due to irritation, burning, and mild dry eyes
From the #1 brand of redness relief eye drops
Provides up to 12 hours of soothing comfort
What is It Used for?
Relieves redness of the eye due to minor eye irritations
For the temporary relief of burning and irritation due to dryness of the eye
For use as a protectant against further irritation or dryness of the eye
How Does It Work?
Clear Eyes Redness Relief is a combination of two active ingredients.
Naphazoline is an alpha agonist. It works by tightening the blood vessels in your eyes. This helps to relieve eye redness and irritation.
Glycerin is an eye lubricant. It helps keep the eye moist to prevent and relieve dry eye and eye irritation.
Full Ingredients List
| Active ingredients | Glycerin 0.25% (Lubricant), Naphazoline Hydrochloride 0.012% (Redness Reliever) |
| Inactive ingredients | Benzalkonium chloride, boric acid, edetate disodium, purified water, sodium borate |
The Side Effects
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
| Common Side Effects | Side effects aren't common. See Other Side Effects. |
Other Side Effects |
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Serious Side Effects | Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
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Clear Eyes Redness Relief Review
| Pros | Cons |
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Price and Where to Buy:
$3.46@walmart.com: up to 1% cashback
$4.99@walgreens.com: up to 4% cashback
Use Directions:
Tilt your head back, pull down your lower eyelid to create a pocket, and squeeze 1-2 drops into the eye.
Remove contact lenses before using, and gently close your eyes for 1-2 minutes after applying the drops.
You can use the drops up to four times daily.
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2.VISINE Red Eye Comfort Eye Drops
Product details: Visine Red Eye Comfort Redness Relief Eye Drops get the red out fast and work in 60 seconds. This fast-acting, redness reliever contains 0.05 percent tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride to relieve red eye due to minor irritations caused by exposure to smoke and other airborne pollutants, a poor night's sleep, or staring at a computer screen for long periods of time. From Visine, a brand backed by 60 years of expertise, these sterile eye drops offer fast-acting and effective eye redness relief. The small 0.5-fluid ounce bottle easily slips into a bag or purse, so you can relieve your red eyes anywhere, even on-the-go.
Key Features:
Visine Red Eye Comfort Redness Relief Eye Drops to Get the Red Out
Relieves redness due to minor eye irritations like lack of sleep & extended screen time
Formula features tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride redness reliever
The sterile red eye drops help relieve red eye due to minor eye irritations
Drops work in 60 seconds for fast-acting symptom relief of redness due to minor eye irritations
These sterile eye drops offer fast-acting and effective eye redness relief
Small bottle easily slips into a bag, pocket, or purse for red eye relief even on-the-go
What is It Used for?
Use for the relief of redness of the eye due to minor eye irritations.
How Does It Work?
Visine Red Eye Comfort works by containing vasoconstrictors, which are drugs that shrink the blood vessels in the white part of your eye. Specifically, Visine's active ingredient, tetrahydrozoline HCI, is a decongestant that reduces redness caused by minor eye irritations. When blood vessels constrict, they appear less red, providing temporary relief from redness.
Full Ingredients List
Active ingredients | Tetrahydrozoline hcl 0.05% |
Inactive ingredients | Ascorbic acid, boric acid, dextrose, glycerin, glycine, magnesium chloride, polyquaternium-42, potassium chloride, purified water, sodium borate, sodium citrate, sodium lactate, sodium phosphate dibasic |
The Side Effects
Common Side Effects |
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Serious Side Effects |
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Visine Red Eye Comfort Redness Relief Review
| Pros | Cons |
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Price and Where to Buy:
$6.14@walmart.com: up to 1% cashback
$6.49@walgreens.com: up to 4% cashback
$7.99@cvs.com: up to 7% cashback
Use Directions:
Adults and children 6 years of age and over: put 1 or 2 drops in the affected eye(s) up to 4 times a day
Children under 6 years of age: consult a doctor
Children under 2 years of age: do not use
3.Lumify Redness Reliever Eye Drops
Product details: LUMIFY eye drops significantly reduce redness to help eyes appear whiter, brighter, and more radiant. LUMIFY is a unique, FDA approved formulation, that was developed by doctors and is clinically proven to reduce redness in 1 minute and last up to 8 hours. LUMIFY works differently to selectively target redness with a lower risk of potential side effects. Contains absolutely no bleach or dyes.
Key Features:
Redness Reliever Eye Drops
Unique Formula never available before
Works in 1 minute
Lasts up to 8 hours
What is It Used for?
Relieves redness of the eye due to minor eye irritations
How Does It Work?
Lumify Redness Relief eye drops, containing the active ingredient brimonidine tartrate, work by constricting blood vessels in the eye to reduce redness.
Full Ingredients List
| Active ingredient | Brimonidine tartrate (0.025%) - 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. |
The Side Effects
Common Side Effects |
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Serious Side Effects |
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Clear Eyes Redness Relief Review
| Pros | Cons |
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Price and Where to Buy:
$17.99 @walgreens.com: up to 4% cashback
$12.97@walmart.com：up to 1% cashback
Use Directions:
Adults and children 5 years of age and over:
Instill 1 drop in the affected eye(s) every 6-8 hours
Do not use more than 4 times daily
Remove contact lenses before use
Wait at least 10 minutes before re-inserting contact lenses after use
If using other ophthalmic products while using this product wait at least 5 minutes between each product
To avoid contamination, do not touch tip of container to any surfaceReplace cap after each use
Children under 5 years of age: consult a doctor。
Clear Eyes vs. Visine vs. Lumify Eye Drops Comparison Side by Side
Clear Eyes, Visine, and Lumify are all over-the-counter eye drops used to relieve temporary eye redness, but they work differently and have potential side effects to consider.
Clear Eyes and Visine constrict blood vessels, which can temporarily whiten the eyes, but may also lead to rebound redness or worsening symptoms with continued use.
Lumify, on the other hand, targets specific receptors in the veins, potentially reducing the risk of rebound and other side effects.
Key Differences:
Mechanism of Action: Lumify targets the eye's veins, while Visine and Clear Eyes target the arteries.
Rebound Redness: Lumify is less likely to cause rebound redness compared to Visine and Clear Eyes.
Preservatives: While Lumify is now available in a preservative-free formulation, other formulations may contain preservatives that can cause irritation.
Long-term Use: Lumify is generally considered safer for occasional, short-term use, while Visine and Clear Eyes should be used sparingly and for a limited duration.
Here is the comparison table between Clear Eyes vs. Visine vs. Lumify Redness Relief Eye Drops
| Clear Eyes | Visine | Lumify | |
| Active ingredient | Glycerin and Naphazoline Hydrochloride | Tetrahydrozoline | Brimonidine Tartrate |
| Mechanism | Constricts blood vessels, primarily in the arteries, reducing redness. | Constricts blood vessels, potentially reducing redness | Constricts blood vessels, primarily in the veins, reducing redness with less risk of rebound |
Potential side effects | May cause rebound redness when use is stopped, as the blood vessels may open up wider than before. | Rebound redness, dry mouth, blurred vision, and drowsiness | Less likely to cause rebound redness, dry mouth, or blurred vision, but may cause mild irritation, itching, or burning |
Preservative | Many formulations contain preservatives like benzalkonium chloride, which can cause allergic reactions or other issues with extended use. | Contains benzalkonium chloride, which can cause reactions in some individuals | Contains benzalkonium chloride, but preservative-free Lumify is also available |
How it works | Constricts blood vessels in the eye, temporarily reducing redness. | Similar to Clear Eyes, constricts blood vessels to reduce redness. | Unlike Clear Eyes and Visine, Lumify targets specific receptors in the veins, potentially reducing rebound redness and other side effects. |
| Considerations | May cause blurry vision or increased sensitivity to light. | May cause blurry vision or increased sensitivity to light. | Some users report headaches or blurred vision. |
Conclusion: Which is the Best Redness Relief Eye Drops?
Clear Eyes
Clear Eyes offers several redness relief options, including Maximum Redness Relief. Like Visine, Clear Eyes uses tetrahydrozoline to reduce redness by constricting blood vessels.
Visine
Visine Red Eye Comfort uses tetrahydrozoline, another decongestant that can help to reduce redness. It's known for its quick relief, working in about 60 seconds. Visine also offers a version with all-in-one relief for redness, irritation, and dryness.
Lumify
Lumify contains low-dose brimonidine tartrate, a decongestant that helps to reduce redness caused by blood vessel swelling. It's known for its quick action and long-lasting relief, up to 8 hours. Some users also find it helps to make their eyes appear brighter.
Which one to choose:
Clear Eyes and Visine are suitable for temporary relief of redness, but be aware of the potential for rebound effects and preservative sensitivities.
For redness relief, Lumify is generally considered a better option than Clear Eyes or Visine due to its mechanism of action and lower risk of rebound redness. Lumify targets the veins in the eye, while Clear Eyes and Visine target the arteries, which can cause a rebound effect.
Tips: If you have frequent or persistent eye redness, it's crucial to consult with an ophthalmologist to determine the underlying cause and appropriate treatment.
FAQs
1.What causes red eyes?Red eyes can result from allergies, infections, dryness, fatigue, or exposure to irritants like smoke or dust.
2.Are redness-relieving eye drops safe for daily use?
Some eye drops are safe for daily use, while others are intended for short-term relief. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and consult with an eye care professional.
3.Can I use these redness relief eys drops with contact lenses?
Not all eye drops are suitable for contact lens wearers. Check the product label or consult with your eye care provider.
4.Is it bad to use redness relief eye drops every day?
Yes, it's generally not recommended to use redness relief eye drops every day, as they are designed for short-term use only. Overuse can lead to a "rebound effect" where redness worsens when the drops are stopped, or it can mask underlying eye conditions.
5.How long do redness eye drops take to work?
Redness eye drops can work quite quickly. Many popular brands claim to provide relief within 60 seconds, according to Visine. Some drops, like Lumify, may even work in as little as 1 minute. The duration of relief also varies; some drops may last for several hours, while others may provide shorter-term relief.
6.What are the side effects of clear eyes redness relief?
Stinging, redness, widened pupils, or blurred vision may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Read More:
12 Best Preservative-Free Eye Drops for Dry, Red or Irritated Eyes 2025
Lumify vs. Visine vs. Rohto Eye Drops: Differences and Reviews 2025
Systane Ultra vs. Complete vs. Balance Eye Drops: Full Comparison & Verdict 2025
Systane vs. TheraTears vs. Refresh vs. Visine: Which Brand Wins the Eye Drops Showdown?
5 Cheaper Alternatives to LUMIFY Redness Reliever Eye Drops in 2025
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