To make your eyes whiter, whitening eye drops primarily act in one of two ways: Blood vessel constriction Medication that causes the blood vessels in the eyes to narrow is included in certain redness-relieving drops (constrict).
These drops include brimonidine and timolol. Brimonidine is used to treat glaucoma and some types of vision problems. Timolol is used to control excessive eye pressure that can lead to blindness if not treated. The combination product of these two medications is called Alphagan P® and is used to prevent and treat glaucoma and improve vision in people who are not able to use other medication or have negative effects from it.
How does this work on eyes? First, it reduces swelling caused by inflammation. Second, it decreases production of melanin, which is the color component of skin, hair, and eyes. Melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes. Over time, repeated applications of whitening drops will result in lighter colored eyes.
You should never use eye drops as a way to hide dark circles under your eyes or otherwise alter your eye appearance. They may cause complications such as blurred vision or loss of sight if you're using them incorrectly or without guidance from an eye doctor. For best results, use eye drops according to instructions below.
Other eye drops contain lubricants that prevent dryness and moisten the whites of your eyes, making them feel better and, in some situations, seem whiter. These include cyclosporine, which is used to treat allergies and other disorders associated with increased mucus production, and artificial tears, which are used as a first line of defense against dry eyes.
The use of these drops after laser surgery on the eye's surface helps to prevent complications such as haze, blurry vision, and redness caused by fluid accumulation under the skin near the eye. Haze usually goes away within a few weeks but may take longer for others to resolve. Some people who have had laser surgery can even resume normal activities including driving after only a few days or weeks of treatment with topical corticosteroids or anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen (Naprosyn).
Lubricants reduce friction between the eye's surface and lenses inside the eye, which reduces glare and discomfort from light. They also help prevent infections by providing moisture and reducing irritation due to dust, smoke, chemicals, or dirt.
Eye drops work by placing a liquid directly into the eye. The medication will be absorbed through the lining of the eye into the bloodstream, reaching all parts of the body via the heart.
These drops may contain vasoconstrictors, which are medications that cause blood vessels to tighten. Making the blood vessels on the sclera smaller will whiten your eyes, but if you use red-eye removal drops regularly over time, you may need to use them more frequently to avoid the red eye from returning.
The most common type of red-eye removal drop is called an alpha-adrenergic agonist. These work by reducing swelling and irritation to the eye caused by allergies or other problems within the eye. They can also be used to treat chronic conditions like glaucoma or cataracts. The two main types are parasympathomimetics and sympathomimetics.
Parasympathomimetics include epinephrine and dipivefylate. Sympathomimetics include phenylephrine hydrochloride and methoxyphenamine hydrobromide (Mahanine).
These drops should not be used by people who are also taking beta blockers because it is not known how they would react when used together at any dose. People who take adenosine monophosphate (Advil) or colchicine (Colcrys) should not take red-eye removal drops because they would be putting themselves at risk for developing kidney problems. Colchicine is also known as "the medicine for Alkies" because of its use in preventing attacks of gout and preventing recurrent strokes.
There are several eye drops on the market that promise to brighten the whites of your eyes, but Lumify Eye Drops ($9.58 at Amazon) provide immediate effects when you need them the most. The prescription-free formula contains a high concentration of bilberry extract, which has been shown in studies to help reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes and improve vision by preventing further damage to the retina.
Your eyes produce an oil called hyaluronic acid that keeps their lashes healthy and attached to your eyeball. As we age, our bodies produce less of this oil, which can cause your lashes to fall out. However, with Lumify you get immediate results without having to use any kind of topical medication. Just spray into your left and right eyes every morning and evening and watch your lashes grow!
If you're looking for a longer-lasting effect, then try Algotherapye Eye Drops ($59.95 at Walgreens). This prescription-only product is made up of purified enzymes derived from bacteria and plants used in Chinese medicine. These enzymes are supposed to smooth out skin around the eye area so that visible wrinkles are reduced. It's also worth mentioning that Algotherapye Eye Drops are the only eye drop approved by the FDA to treat dry eye syndrome.
Drops for the eyes
What Ingredients Are in Eye-Whitening Drops? For many years, the most popular eye-whitening product was tetrahydrozoline, often known as Visine over-the-counter. It works by causing arteries in your eyes to dilate. The FDA authorized a low-dose version of brimonidine tartrate, which was first given to treat glaucoma, in 2017.
This drug contains brimonidine, which has the same effect as tetracycline when it comes to reducing yellow pigment in your eyes. It's also been shown to reduce inflammation of the optic nerve that can lead to blindness if not treated. Brimonidine is only available as a prescription drug but it has fewer side effects than tetrahydrozoline.
Brimonidine is more effective at lowering blood pressure than tetrahydrozoline and this may be why it is used more frequently in anti-aging products. However, brimonidine is still a beta blocker which means it can cause similar side effects to other eye drops including dryness of the eyes, irritation, and increased sensitivity to light. If you are looking for an all-natural alternative, bromelain may help but more research needs to be done on its effectiveness and safety.
People who are looking for a long-term solution to dark circles under their eyes should consider using an eye cream rather than an eye drop.