There’s a New Kind of OTC Eye Drop for Redness Relief

“This gives consumers another option for occasional redness relief, using a medication ophthalmologists have worked with for years at higher prescription strengths,” says Bavand Youssefzadeh, DO, an ophthalmologist with Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles and a cofounder of the Global LASIK and Cataract Institute, both in California, who wasn’t involved with the product’s development.

“What’s new is the lower-concentration, nonprescription formulation for redness caused by minor irritation,” Dr. Youssefzadeh says.

There are a few limitations to consider before you try Brytly, including how often to apply it.

Brytly Whitens Eyes by Narrowing Blood Vessels

Brytly (apraclonidine ophthalmic solution 0.125%) works by stimulating alpha-adrenergic receptors in the eye. “This causes blood vessels on the surface of the eye to narrow and become less visible,” Youssefzadeh says.

Brytly isn’t the first drug in this class available without a prescription. “This is the first OTC apraclonidine product, rather than the first redness drop of this general type,” Youssefzadeh says. Another well-known OTC product, Lumify Redness Reliever Eye Drops, contains the active ingredient brimonidine, which belongs to the same broad drug family and can reduce eye redness for up to 8 hours.

Youssefzadeh says Brytly is simply another choice for consumers to treat eye redness. He cautions against assuming that Brytly is “better” than Lumify because it lasts longer. “I would avoid assuming it has less rebound redness or better tolerability without comparative data,” he says.

How Brytly Got Approved

Limitations on the Use of Brytly

Brytly is approved for adults and children ages 12 and older. It should not be used more than twice a day.

“Twice daily is the maximum approved frequency, and patients should follow that limit,” Youssefzadeh says. “More frequent dosing shouldn’t be assumed to provide more benefit. If someone needs repeated applications to keep their eyes comfortable or clear, that’s a reason to investigate the redness.”

People who regularly rely on an eye drop like Brytly should get an eye exam, Youssefzadeh says. “Reducing redness doesn’t necessarily address what caused it. I would want people to understand that a whiter-looking eye can still have an underlying problem.”

“Dry eye, allergies, eyelid inflammation, and contact lens problems can all require different treatments,” he says. “My advice is to treat the reason the eye is red, rather than simply keep covering up the symptom.”

When Will Brytly Eye Drops Be Available?

Alcon said in its press release that Brytly would be available at retailers “in the coming months.” The company didn’t say how much the eye drops will cost.