Refresh Redness Relief

Refresh Redness Relief is an over-the-counter medication product used to prevent and provide relief from eye redness, irritation, and/or dryness. It is a single product containing 2 active ingredients: phenylephrine and polyvinyl alcohol.

Phenylephrine belongs to a class of medications called alpha agonists. These work to reduce eye redness by constricting blood vessels in the eye. Polyvinyl alcohol belongs to a class of medications called ocular (eye) lubricants. These work to relieve eye irritation and dryness by lubricating the moving parts of the eye, eyelid, and surrounding structures.

This medication comes in eyedrop form and is typically administered on an as needed basis up to four times daily.

Common side effects of Refresh Redness Relief include headache, burning or stinging of the eyes, and increased light sensitivity.

Refresh Redness Relief can also cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Refresh Redness Relief affects you. 

Refresh Redness Relief is an over-the-counter medication product used to prevent and provide relief from eye redness and/or dryness caused by minor irritations.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor or as directed on the label. 

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your weight
• your age

The recommended amount of Refresh Redness Relief to use for relief of eye redness and/or dryness caused by minor irritations is 1 to 2 drops into the affected eye(s) up to four times daily as needed.

Serious side effects have been reported with Refresh Redness Relief including the following:

• Eye infections. To prevent contamination and potential infection, care should be taken to avoid touching the bottle tip to eyelids or to any other surface. The use of this bottle by more than one person may spread infection. Keep bottle tightly closed when not in use.
• Acute hypersensitivity reactions. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, and/or trouble breathing.
• Quickened and/or irregular heartbeat. Discontinue use and consult with your physician if you notice a quickened and/or irregular heartbeat while taking Refresh Redness Relief.
• Increased blood pressure. Consult with your physician if you have high blood pressure or a family history of high blood pressure before using Refresh Redness Relief.
• Increased eye redness. If you overuse Refresh Redness Relief, you may experience increased eye redness. Consult with your physician if you find you need to use Refresh Redness Relief for more than 3 consecutive days.

Do not use Refresh Redness Relief if you are allergic to Refresh Redness Relief or to any of its ingredients.

Refresh Redness Relief can also cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Refresh Redness Relief affects you. 

Serious side effects have been reported with Refresh Redness Relief. See the “Refresh Redness Relief Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Refresh Redness Relief include the following:

• dizziness
• pupil dilation
• headache
• increased sensitivity to light
• watery eyes
• temporary eye stinging and/or burning upon application
• eye discomfort
• eye redness
• vision changes

This is not a complete list of Refresh Redness Relief side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• acebutolol
• albuterol
• arformoterol
• atenolol
• atropine
• belladonna
• bendroflumethiazide / nadolol
• benztropine
• betaxolol
• biperiden
• bisoprolol
• bitolterol
• brimonidine / timolol eyedrops
• brompheniramine / chlorpheniramine / methscopolamine / phenylephrine / pseudoephedrine
• budesonide / formoterol
• butabarbital / hyoscyamine / phenazopyridine
• caffeine / ergotamine
• carbinoxamine / methscopolamine / pseudoephedrine
• carteolol
• carvedilol
• cellulase / hyoscyamine / pancrelipase / phenyltoloxamine
• chlordiazepoxide / clidinium
• chlorothiazide / reserpine
• chlorpheniramine / dextromethorphan / guaifenesin / methscopolamine / phenylephrine
• chlorthalidone / reserpine
• clidinium
• deserpidine
• desvenlafaxine
• dexchlorpheniramine / methscopolamine / phenylephrine
• dicyclomine
• dihydroergotamine
• dorzolamide / timolol eyedrops
• droxidopa
• duloxetine
• ergonovine
• ergotamine
• esmolol
• flavoxate
• fluticasone / salmeterol

• formoterol
• furazolidone
• glycopyrrolate
• guanadrel
• guanethidine
• halothane
• homatropine / hydrocodone
• hydralazine / hydrochlorothiazide / reserpine
• hydrochlorothiazide
• hydroflumethiazide / reserpine
• hyoscyamine
• indacaterol
• isocarboxazid
• isoetharine
• isoproterenol
• labetalol
• lactobacillus acidophilus / methscopolamine
• levalbuterol
• levobetaxolol eyedrops
• levobunolol eyedrops
• levomilnacipran
• linezolid
• mepenzolate
• metaproterenol
• methscopolamine
• methyclothiazide / reserpine
• methylergonovine
• methysergide maleate
• metipranolol eyedrops
• metoprolol
• midodrine
• milnacipran
• nadolol
• nebivolol
• olodaterol
• orphenadrine
• oxybutynin
• oxytocin
• penbutolol
• phenelzine
• pindolol
• pirbuterol
• polythiazide / reserpine
• procarbazine
• procyclidine
• propantheline
• propranolol
• racepinephrine
• rasagiline
• rauwolfia serpentina
• reserpine
• ritodrine
• salmeterol
• scopolamine
• selegiline
• sibutramine
• sotalol
• tapentadol
• terbutaline
• timolol
• tranylcypromine
• trihexyphenidyl
• umeclidinium / vilanterol
• venlafaxine

 This is not a complete list of Refresh Redness Relief drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy. Refresh Redness Relief has not yet been evaluated on safety for use during pregnancy.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if Refresh Redness Relief crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Refresh Redness Relief.