Bausch + Lomb Corporation announced that Ophthalmology and Therapy published a new global narrative review examining the causes, burden and management of non-infectious conjunctival hyperemia (ocular redness). The review highlights the growing global prevalence of ocular redness driven by digital lifestyles, dry eye, contact lens wear, allergies and environmental factors, reinforcing how ocular redness affects both comfort and appearance.1
Developed by clinical experts from nine countries, the publication underscores the aesthetic and psychosocial impact of ocular redness, noting that individuals with red eyes may be perceived as less healthy or more fatigued – a concern amplified by video conferencing and social media, which spotlight facial features, including the eyes and the periocular region. The authors also note that ocular redness frequently presents symptoms such as irritation, dryness, itching or foreign-body sensation, contributing to patient discomfort and reduced quality of life.
“Ocular redness is no longer just a clinical concern, it’s a global lifestyle and quality-of-life issue,” said Melissa Toyos, MD, lead author of the review and partner, Toyos Clinic, Nashville, Tenn. “Patients today are seeking effective, safe and aesthetically minded products, which makes understanding the differences in products more important than ever.”
Key clinical insights from the paper:
- Rising prevalence: Noninfectious conjunctival hyperemia is rising worldwide due to digital eye strain, dry eye disease, allergies, contact lens wear and environmental factors
- Limitations of traditional decongestants: Traditional α1 and mixed α1/α2 decongestants may provide short-term symptom relief but are prone to tachyphylaxis, rebound redness and shorter duration of effect
- Impact on comfort and appearance: Ocular redness is often accompanied by symptoms such as irritation and dryness, and may adversely affect quality of life due to both discomfort and aesthetic concerns
- Evidence for brimonidine tartrate 0.025%:Brimonidine tartrate 0.025% (LUMIFY Redness Reliever eye drops), a highly selective α2-adrenergic receptor (AR) agonist, demonstrated effective redness reduction with no tachyphylaxis over 29 days and virtually no rebound redness after discontinuation
- Aesthetic-driven OTC use: Patients increasingly seek safe OTC redness-relief products for aesthetic reasons, highlighting the importance of selective mechanisms and favourable safety profiles
- Need for patient education: Global gaps exist in patient awareness and clinical guidance, underscoring the importance of patient education, appropriate OTC product selection and awareness of safety considerations, especially amid increasing global self-treatment and concerns with unsafe or unapproved copycat or counterfeit redness relievers
“This publication reinforces the unique, mechanism-based advantages of LUMIFY,” said Mayssa Attar, senior vice president, Pharmaceuticals and Consumer R&D, Bausch + Lomb. “The evidence supporting selective α2-AR agonist mechanism clearly differentiates LUMIFY’s established safety and efficacy profile and reflects our commitment to delivering trusted, science-backed products for consumers.”
LUMIFY, formulated with low-dose brimonidine tartrate 0.025%, provides fast, effective redness reduction while avoiding tachyphylaxis and rebound redness associated with traditional decongestants. Its highly selective α2-AR agonist mechanism primarily constricts venules rather than arterioles, contributing to a favourable safety profile, tolerability and efficacy. Clinical evidence across four trials demonstrated no tachyphylaxis over 29 days and virtually no rebound redness upon discontinuation.
The review also notes a preservative-free formulation of brimonidine tartrate 0.025%, which demonstrated efficacy, safety and tolerability comparable to the original version with virtually no rebound redness. In 2025, Bausch + Lomb introduced LUMIFY Preservative Free Eye Drops in convenient single-use vials, offering patients an additional brimonidine-based option without preservatives.
For more information on LUMIFY and LUMIFY Preservative Free, visit www.lumifyeyes.com.
References
1.Toyos M, Chan CC, Alio JL, Chong KKL, Pek D, Doan S, Sinjab M, Hosny M, Messmer EM, Giannaccare G. “Global Perspectives on Therapy for Noninfectious Conjunctival Hyperemia: A Narrative Review.” Ophthalmology and Therapy. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40123-026-01310-7.
