Visine

Visine (/ˌvaɪˈziːn/), also known as Vispring, is a brand of eye drops produced by Kenvue.[1] Visine was first introduced in 1958 and was acquired by Pfizer in 1999.[2][3] In 2006, Johnson & Johnson acquired Visine, along with Pfizer's entire consumer healthcare portfolio.[4] The original formulation of Visine includes the active ingredient tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride, which is a vasoconstrictor that constricts the eye's superficial blood vessels to temporarily reduce eye redness.[5]

Numine, or Visine
Unpackaged Visine bottle from 2014
Product typeEye drops
OwnerKenvue
Introduced1958
Previous ownersPfizer
Websitewww.visine.com

Products

In addition to its original formulation, Visine is available in several varieties of eye drops for different types of eye irritation. These include formulas with antihistamines for allergy-induced irritation, to moisturizing formulations for eye dryness.[6] These formulations use active ingredients ranging from oxymetazoline to naphazoline.[7][8] Some Visine products cater specifically to contact lens wearers or to those who require artificial tears.[9]

Side effects

Adverse effects

Visine has been observed to cause stinging and burning upon application, and has a rebound effect that may cause eye redness to worsen.[10][11] Prolonged use has been observed to cause blood vessels to be dilated for an extended period of time. Because of this risk, Visine usage has been recommended to be limited, unless specified by a doctor.[12] Some formulations of Visine are not advised for contact lens wearers as the decreased blood flow to counter eye redness could further lower oxygen levels to the eye.[12] Some Visine products are not recommended to be used by patients with glaucoma, since stimulation from lubrication can contribute to high pressure within the eye. Certain underlying health conditions that cause eye irritation are not able to be relieved by Visine and require prescription-grade eye drops.[13]

Ingestion

A debunked urban legend claims that a few drops of Visine will cause harmless but debilitating bouts of explosive diarrhea, similar to a laxative.[14] However, symptoms of Visine's active ingredient tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride can be severe, and can include:

Oral ingestion of Visine warrants immediate medical attention or a call to a poison control center.[15]

Criminal use

There have been multiple high-profile murder cases that have been alleged to utilize Visine's active ingredient tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride as a poison. In 2018, a South Carolina nurse was accused of killing her husband by adding Visine to his drinks over a period of three days.[16][17] In 2019, a North Carolina paramedic was similarly accused of murdering his wife, with Visine misuse asserted as the probable cause.[18]

In the film Wedding Crashers, the character Sack Lodge, portrayed by Bradley Cooper, is drugged with Visine eye drops, and is depicted as having severe gastrointestinal upset afterwards. The character John Beckwith, portrayed by Owen Wilson, uses Visine several times over the course of the film to feign crying. The movie gained notoriety for misrepresenting the effects of Visine consumption, which in actuality can be lethal.[19]

The urban legend about Visine inducing severe diarrhea is perpetuated in the film I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell. In the movie, the main character Tucker Max, portrayed by Matt Czuchry, offends two women at a bar, prompting one of the women to squirt Visine into his beer bottle without his knowledge. After consuming the drugged liquid, Tucker, and another character, are then depicted as having severe diarrhea.

In Season 4, Episode 3 of Orange Is the New Black, an inmate poisons a fellow inmate using Visine, and the poisoned inmate is depicted as experiencing severe diarrhea shortly after.[19]

References
  1. "Johnson & Johnson buys Pfizer consumer unit". NBC News. June 26, 2006. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  2. "Covina Argus from Covina, California". Newspapers.com. October 2, 1958.
  3. "Pfizer Launching Visine Tears for Dry, Irritated Eyes". Medtech Insight. January 8, 1999. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  4. Saul, Stephanie (June 27, 2006). "Johnson & Johnson Buys Pfizer Unit for $16.6 Billion". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  5. "6 Ways to Fix Your Bloodshot Eyes Without Visine". Men's Health. November 20, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  6. Jacobi, Christina (2012). "Prospective, randomized, controlled comparison of SYSTANE UD eye drops versus VISINE INTENSIV 1% EDO eye drops for the treatment of moderate dry eye". Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 28 (6): 598–603. doi:10.1089/jop.2012.0066. PMID 22813209 – via NCBI.
  7. "Visine L.R.: Package Insert / Prescribing Information". Drugs.com. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  8. "DailyMed - VISINE ALLERGY EYE RELIEF MULTI-ACTION- naphazoline hydrochloride and pheniramine maleate solution/ drops". dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  9. "Visine Tears Uses, Side Effects & Warnings". Drugs.com. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  10. Skilling, FC Jr; Weaver, TA; Kato, KP; Ford, JG; Dussia, EM (2005). "Effects of two eye drop products on computer users with subjective ocular discomfort". Optometry. St. Louis, Mo. 76 (1): 47–54. doi:10.1016/s1529-1839(05)70254-2. PMID 15682562.
  11. Nelson, Elizabeth Laura (January 14, 2023). "What Happens When You Use Too Many Eye Drops?". Best Life. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  12. Zigler, Dr. Travis (October 14, 2020). "Why You Should NEVER Use Visine or Cleareyes". Eye Love.
  13. "Glaucoma - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic". www.mayoclinic.org. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  14. Starr, Katie (July 23, 2013). "Nothing funny about so-called 'Visine prank,' says pharmacist | TheRecord.com". TheRecord.com. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  15. "Tetrahydrozoline poisoning Information | Mount Sinai - New York". Mount Sinai Health System. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  16. "Woman pleads guilty to killing husband by lacing his water with eye drops". Sky News. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  17. "Woman sentenced to 25 years in prison for poisoning husband's drinking water with eye drops". ABC News. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  18. Banks, Michael. "Death by Visine? Man accused of killing wife via eye drops". Gaston Gazette. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  19. Lee, Bruce Y. "How Visine Eye Drops In The Mouth Can Kill, Here Are Two Cases". Forbes. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
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