A review was published in Ophthalmology and Therapy that examines the causes, burden, and management of noninfectious conjunctival hyperemia (ocular redness).1 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.
Developed by clinical experts from 9 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. 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 in Nashville, Tennessee, in a news release by Bausch + Lomb announcing the paper's publication. “Patients today are seeking effective, safe, and aesthetically minded products, which makes understanding the differences in products more important than ever.”
The review describes how noninfectious conjunctival hyperemia is rising worldwide due to digital eye strain, dry eye disease, allergies, contact lens wear, and environmental factors; 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; and 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.
Other findings the review presents is that brimonidine tartrate 0.025% (Lumify ; Bausch + Lomb), 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. In addition, the findings also showed that patients increasingly seek safe OTC redness-relief products for aesthetic reasons, highlighting the importance of selective mechanisms and favorable safety profiles. Finally, the review noted how 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.
The authors also describe the 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 single-use vials, offering an additional brimonidine-based option without preservatives.
Reference
1. Toyos M, Chan CC, Alio JL, et al. Global perspectives on therapy for noninfectious conjunctival hyperemia: a narrative review. Ophthalmol Ther. Published online February 14, 2026. doi:10.1007/s40123-026-01310-7