Lumify
Lumify (brimonidine) is an over-the-counter eye drop that helps treat red eye. It contains a lower dose of brimonidine than the prescription medication brimonidine (Alphagan P) used to treat glaucoma. Lumify (brimonidine) doesn't cause a lot of side effects, and starts to work quickly within one minute.
What is Lumify (brimonidine)?
What is Lumify (brimonidine) used for?
Red eye from minor irritation
How Lumify (brimonidine) works
Lumify (brimonidine) is an alpha-2 agonist eye drop. It eases eye redness by narrowing the blood vessels in the eyes.
Drug Facts
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What are the side effects of Lumify (brimonidine)?
Common Side Effects
- Itchy eye(s)
- Feeling like somethings in your eye
- Tearing
- Eye pain
Source: DailyMed
The following side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Change in vision
- New or worsening eye pain, redness, irritation, or discharge
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
Pros and cons of Lumify (brimonidine)
Pros
Available without a prescription
Starts to work within a minute
Can be used in children as young as 5 years old
Cons
Only relieves red eyes, it doesn't treat the cause
Can cause a feeling like there's something in your eye
Effects last about 8 hours
Pharmacist tips for Lumify (brimonidine)
Wash your hands before putting Lumify (brimonidine) drops in your eyes. Don't touch the dropper tip with your eye, hands, or any other surface. This will help you avoid eye infections by preventing contamination of the solution.
After placing a drop in the eye, close your eye and press one finger to the inner corner of your eye by the nose and press lightly for 1 minute. This helps make sure your eye absorbs the drop.
If you are using Lumify (brimonidine) at the same time as other eye medications, wait 5 minutes between each drop to give your eyes time to absorb each medication.
Frequently asked questions about Lumify (brimonidine)
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What are the risks and warnings for Lumify (brimonidine)?
Lumify (brimonidine) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Bacterial infections
Risk factors: Injury or damage to the surface of the eye
Use of Lumify (brimonidine) can cause a bacteria infection in your eye if your bottle gets contaminated with bacteria. It's important to wash your hands before each use, and be careful not to touch the dropper tip with your eye, hands, or any other surface.
No contact lenses
The preservative in Lumify (brimonidine), benzalkonium chloride, can be absorbed by soft contact lenses and cause damage. If you wear soft contacts, remove them before using a dose of Lumify (brimonidine). Wait at least 10 minutes after your dose before putting your contacts back in.
Only use in the eye
Only put Lumify (brimonidine) on the surface of the eye. Don't swallow it or use this as an injection because there's not much information on the risks of this and it can be very unsafe.
Eye irritation or redness
Most people don't experience side effects when using Lumify (brimonidine). But if you experience eye pain, more eye redness, or eye irritation after using this medication, stop using it and contact your provider, as this could be a sign of an allergic reaction.
Also, if you have been using this product for 3 days and haven't seen any improvement or if your symptoms have gotten worse, you should also contact your provider. You might need more medical attention.
Lumify (brimonidine) dosage forms
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5ml of 0.025% | 1 eye dropper | $16.91 | $16.91 |
Typical dosing for Lumify (brimonidine)
Adults and children (ages 5 years and older): Place 1 drop in the affected eye(s) every 6 to 8 hours, no more than 4 times daily.
How much does Lumify (brimonidine) cost?
Lumify (brimonidine) contraindications
Children under the age of 5
What are alternatives to Lumify (brimonidine)?
Short-term relief of eye symptoms, such as:
Protection against further eye irritation
Lumify (brimonidine) images
References
Best studies we foundAckerman, S. L., et al. (2019). Low-dose brimonidine for relief of ocular redness: Integrated analysis of four clinical trials. Clinical & Experimental Optometry.
Bausch & Lomb Incorporated. (2023). Lumify redness reliever eye drops- brimonidine tartrate solution/ drops [package insert]. DailyMed.
Gudgel, D. T. (2023). How to put in eye drops. American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Merchel Piovesan Pereira, B., et al. (2019). Benzalkonium chlorides: Uses, regulatory status, and microbial resistance. Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
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