I use Visine eyedrops daily to "clear the red out." Is this safe?

J.K.

I personally do not recommend the use of Visine and similar eyedrops. Products that claim to "get the red out" contain ingredients that constrict the blood vessels of the white part of the eye. The constricting agents do temporarily eliminate redness, but over the course of hours, the redness and eye irritation reappear.

The main problem with Visine and other anti-redness eyedrops is that they do not address the underlying problem that is making the eye red, such as ocular allergies or dry-eye syndrome. It is the body's natural defense to call for more blood to help nourish the eye -- and anti-redness eyedrops are geared to stop this supply without treating the condition causing the redness.

When Visine's effects wear off, the redness often reappears even more pronounced than before -- a situation referred to as "rebound redness." Often, the patient reaches for the anti-redness eyedrops again, leading to a vicious cycle of chronic eyedrop use.