Visine
 | |
 Unpackaged Visine bottle from 2014 | |
| Product type | Eye drops |
|---|---|
| Owner | Kenvue |
| Introduced | 1958 |
| Previous owners | Pfizer Johnson & Johnson |
| Website | www.visine.com |
Visine(/ˌvaɪˈziːn/), also known asVispring,is a brand ofeye dropsproduced byKenvue.[1]Visine was first introduced in 1958 and was acquired byPfizerin 1999.[2][3]In 2006,Johnson & Johnsonacquired Visine, along with Pfizer's entire consumer healthcare portfolio.[4]The original formulation of Visine includes the active ingredienttetrahydrozoline hydrochloride,which is avasoconstrictorthat constricts the eye's superficialblood vesselsto temporarily reduceeye redness.[5]
Products[edit]
In addition to its original formulation, Visine is available in several varieties of eye drops for different types of eye irritation. These include formulas withantihistaminesfor allergy-induced irritation, to moisturizing formulations foreye dryness.[6]These formulations useactive ingredientsranging fromoxymetazolinetonaphazoline.[7][8]Some Visine products cater specifically tocontact lenswearers or to those who requireartificial tears.[9]
Side effects[edit]
Adverse effects[edit]
Visine has been observed to cause stinging and burning upon application, and has arebound effectthat may cause eye redness to worsen.[10][11]Prolonged use has been observed to cause blood vessels to bedilatedfor 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 withglaucoma,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[edit]
A debunkedurban legendclaims that a few drops of Visine will cause harmless but debilitating bouts ofexplosive diarrhea,similar to alaxative.[14]However, symptoms of Visine's active ingredienttetrahydrozoline hydrochloridecan be severe, and can include:
- Dangerously low body temperature(hypothermia)
- Blurred vision
- Nauseaandvomiting
- Difficulty breathingorcessation of breathing
- Elevated blood pressure(hypertension) followed by suddenlow blood pressure(hypotension)
- Coma
- Seizuresandtremors
- Death
Oral ingestion of Visine warrants immediate medical attention or a call to apoison control center.[15]
Criminal use[edit]
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]
Popular culture[edit]
In the filmWedding Crashers,the character Sack Lodge, portrayed byBradley Cooper,is drugged with Visine eye drops, and is depicted as having severe gastrointestinal upset afterwards. The character John Beckwith, portrayed byOwen 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]
Theurban legendabout Visine inducing severe diarrhea is perpetuated in the filmI Hope They Serve Beer in Hell.In the movie, the main character Tucker Max, portrayed byMatt 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 ofOrange 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]
In Season 1, Episode 5 of "Dead Boy Detectives," a high school girl poisons her boyfriend and another boy using Visine, expecting them to pass out. Instead, they convulse, bleed from their eyes, and die.
References[edit]
- ^"Johnson & Johnson buys Pfizer consumer unit".NBC News.June 26, 2006.RetrievedJanuary 14,2023.
- ^"Covina Argus from Covina, California".Newspapers.com.October 2, 1958.
- ^"Pfizer Launching Visine Tears for Dry, Irritated Eyes".Medtech Insight.January 8, 1999.RetrievedJanuary 14,2023.
- ^Saul, Stephanie (June 27, 2006)."Johnson & Johnson Buys Pfizer Unit for $16.6 Billion".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedJanuary 14,2023.
- ^"6 Ways to Fix Your Bloodshot Eyes Without Visine".Men's Health.November 20, 2017.RetrievedJanuary 14,2023.
- ^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.PMID22813209– via NCBI.
- ^"Visine L.R.: Package Insert / Prescribing Information".Drugs.com.RetrievedJanuary 15,2023.
- ^"DailyMed - VISINE ALLERGY EYE RELIEF MULTI-ACTION- naphazoline hydrochloride and pheniramine maleate solution/ drops".dailymed.nlm.nih.gov.RetrievedJanuary 15,2023.
- ^"Visine Tears Uses, Side Effects & Warnings".Drugs.com.RetrievedJanuary 15,2023.
- ^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.76(1). St. Louis, Mo.: 47–54.doi:10.1016/s1529-1839(05)70254-2.PMID15682562.
- ^Nelson, Elizabeth Laura (January 14, 2023)."What Happens When You Use Too Many Eye Drops?".Best Life.RetrievedJanuary 15,2023.
- ^abZigler, Dr. Travis (October 14, 2020)."Why You Should NEVER Use Visine or Cleareyes".Eye Love.
- ^"Glaucoma - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic".www.mayoclinic.org.RetrievedJanuary 15,2023.
- ^Starr, Katie (July 23, 2013)."Nothing funny about so-called 'Visine prank,' says pharmacist | TheRecord.com".TheRecord.com.RetrievedOctober 6,2017.
- ^"Tetrahydrozoline poisoning Information | Mount Sinai - New York".Mount Sinai Health System.RetrievedJanuary 15,2023.
- ^"Woman pleads guilty to killing husband by lacing his water with eye drops".Sky News.RetrievedJanuary 17,2020.
- ^"Woman sentenced to 25 years in prison for poisoning husband's drinking water with eye drops".ABC News.RetrievedJanuary 17,2020.
- ^Banks, Michael."Death by Visine? Man accused of killing wife via eye drops".Gaston Gazette.RetrievedJanuary 15,2023.
- ^abLee, Bruce Y."How Visine Eye Drops In The Mouth Can Kill, Here Are Two Cases".Forbes.RetrievedJanuary 15,2023.