Brytly vs Lumify: What the Evidence Says About the New Redness Drop

On Oct. 16, the FDA approved Brytly, a new drop for red eyes, and its maker, Alcon, says it lasts longer than Lumify, which has been sold since 2018. The whites of your eyes are laced with tiny blood vessels, and when dryness, dust, pollen or a short night makes them swell, the eye turns pink. Both drops squeeze those vessels narrower for a few hours, so less red shows. If a redness drop lives in your bag, you’re probably wondering whether the new one is better, and how often you should reach for either.

Quick answer: There’s no proof that Brytly works better than Lumify eye drops. Alcon’s claim that it lasts up to 12 hours, versus 8 for Lumify, comes from comparing what the two boxes say, and nobody has tested the drops head to head. As for how often, both only hide redness, so eye doctors advise against regular use. Pain, blurry vision or redness past three days needs a doctor.

What are Brytly and Lumify?

Lumify contains a medicine called brimonidine, while Brytly is the first nonprescription drop made with a related medicine, apraclonidine. They’re redness drops, sometimes called whitening drops. Both work like concealer for the eyes: less red shows, but whatever irritated them is still there.

That’s why the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a leading group of eye doctors, advises against regular use: redness drops can hide a problem that needs treatment. Its home-care advice caps them at three days, since longer use can make redness worse. A drop before a wedding photo is one thing; needing one most mornings means something’s irritating your eyes, and an eye doctor can find out what.

How the two drops differ

The only real difference is the active ingredient, and even that is small: apraclonidine and brimonidine tighten the eye’s tiny blood vessels in much the same way. Beyond the ingredient, most of the differences you’ll hear about come from the companies themselves.

Apraclonidine isn’t new: doctors already prescribe it at four times Brytly’s strength to lower eye pressure in people with glaucoma.

Does Brytly work better than Lumify?

Nobody knows yet, since no study, finished or underway, pits the two drops against each other.

Lumify at least has a trial published in the journal Optometry and Vision Science, though its maker paid for it. For Brytly, there’s only Alcon’s word: its numbers haven’t been published for outside experts to check. Alcon’s ongoing trial compares a preservative-free version with a dummy drop, so it can’t settle the question either.

Can these drops make red eyes worse?

With Lumify, it seems to be rare: in its month-long trial, about 1 in 40 users had eyes that turned redder a week after stopping. That’s called rebound redness. Alcon says Brytly’s risk is low, too, but it hasn’t released numbers. Rebound is a bigger worry with older drugstore drops made with an ingredient called tetrahydrozoline, whose labels have to warn that overuse can leave eyes redder.

The other thing to watch for is an allergy-type reaction. With the stronger prescription version, it was the top reason people stopped using the drop: itchy, watery eyes and puffy lids. Whether that happens at Brytly’s weaker strength isn’t known, so if your eyes get itchy, puffy or redder after starting any redness drop, stop using it. Using Brytly and Lumify together hasn’t been studied, so don’t combine them.

Two groups should ask a pharmacist before using either drop. If you take an MAO inhibitor, an older type of antidepressant, or the blood pressure pill clonidine, the prescription version of apraclonidine isn’t allowed with them. And if you have glaucoma or already use prescription brimonidine or apraclonidine, check with your eye doctor before adding an over-the-counter version on top.

What treats red eyes instead

The real fix depends on what’s making your eyes red in the first place.

• Dry, scratchy eyes: Artificial tears soothe irritation and rinse out allergens. Using them more than four times a day? Eye doctors suggest the kind labeled “preservative-free.”
• Itchy eyes in allergy season: An antihistamine eye drop goes after the itch itself.
• Eyes irritated by smoke, dust or pets: A cool, clean washcloth over closed eyes helps, and so does less time around whatever set them off.
• Tired eyes: Sometimes rest is all they need.
• Wear contacts? Leaving them in too long is a common cause, and no whitening drop fixes that.

And if the redness outlasts the three days both labels allow, or comes right back every time the drop wears off, that calls for an eye doctor. Bring the bottle you’ve been using, so they know what your eyes have already been through.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When will Brytly be in stores?

Not yet. The FDA approved Brytly on Oct. 16, 2026, as the first nonprescription eye drop made with apraclonidine. Alcon says it plans to sell it in stores and online in the coming months, but it hasn’t announced a launch date or a price. It’s approved only for redness from minor irritations such as dryness or dust.

Is Brytly the same drug used for glaucoma?

Yes, it’s the same ingredient, but at a much weaker strength and for a different purpose. Doctors prescribe a 0.5% version for a short time to lower eye pressure in people with glaucoma. Brytly is 0.125%, so the prescription drop is four times stronger, and the FDA approved Brytly only for red eyes.

Is it OK to use Lumify or other redness drops every day?

Eye doctors advise against it. The American Academy of Ophthalmology limits redness drops to three days, since steady use can backfire and leave eyes redder. Lumify’s label also says to stop and see a doctor if redness lasts more than three days. Its trials covered only about a month of use, so years of daily use haven’t been studied.

Can you use Brytly or Lumify with contact lenses?

Both labels say to take your lenses out before using the drop and wait at least 10 minutes before putting them back in. Leave 5 minutes between different eye drops. If an eye hurts or light bothers it while you wear lenses, skip redness drops and see an eye doctor.

Medical Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions about a medical condition.