Definition: A drug that causes blood vessels to narrow. Commonly referred to as "get the red out" drops, vasoconstrictor eye drops shrink the small blood vessels in the conjunctiva, reducing the appearance of redness in the eyes. Vasoconstrictor eye drops are available without a prescription, but are not recommended for long-term use. These drops can cause "rebound redness" in which the constricted blood vessels relax, dilate and cause even more redness than before.
Vasoconstrictor eye drops are used in the treatment of eye allergies, but are not used in treating viral eye infections such as conjunctivitis. Commonly known vasoconstrictor eye drops include Visine and Murine.
