Yes, you can use LUMIFY if you wear contact lenses, but not while the lenses are in your eyes. Remove both lenses before using the drops. In Canada, the LUMIFY label says to wait at least 15 minutes before reinserting them. Only put your contacts back in if your eyes feel comfortable and your vision is clear.
LUMIFY is a redness reliever, not a lubricating drop. If a lens feels dry, gritty or tight, choose a rewetting or lubricating drop that is specifically labelled for use with contact lenses instead. Eye pain, discharge, light sensitivity, a sudden change in vision or redness that keeps returning should be assessed by an eye care professional.
How to Use LUMIFY When You Wear Contacts
The safest routine is simple: take the lenses out, use the medication exactly as directed, and give the eye enough time before the lenses go back in.
1. Wash and dry your hands. Use soap and a clean, lint-free towel before touching your eyes or lenses.
2. Remove both contact lenses. Discard daily disposables. Place reusable lenses in a clean case with fresh disinfecting solution.
3. Apply one drop to the affected eye. Avoid touching the bottle tip to your eye, fingers or any other surface.
4. Wait at least 15 minutes. This is the wait time stated in the Canadian product directions. Keep the lenses out for longer if the eye still feels irritated.
5. Reinsert only when your eyes feel normal. Use a fresh daily lens or a properly cleaned and disinfected reusable lens. If redness or discomfort returns, take the lenses out again.
6. Separate other eye products. If you use another eye drop, wait at least five minutes between products unless your eye care professional gives you different instructions.
These steps follow the Canadian LUMIFY directions. Always check the package you purchased because labels can differ by country and may be updated over time.
Why Do Contacts Need to Come Out First?
A contact lens sits directly on the tear film, so it can interact with whatever is placed on the eye. The Canadian LUMIFY product monograph notes that its preservative, benzalkonium chloride, may be absorbed by soft contact lenses. Removing the lenses helps prevent avoidable exposure and lets the drop spread across the surface of the eye as intended.
There is another practical reason: redness is sometimes a sign that the lens itself is causing trouble. A lens may be inside out, damaged, dirty, poorly fitted or simply worn for too long. Taking it out gives the eye a break and gives you a chance to inspect the lens rather than covering up the warning sign.
What If You Already Put LUMIFY in With Your Contacts?
Remove the lenses with clean, dry hands. Throw away daily disposables. Clean and disinfect reusable lenses according to their care system, but do not reinsert them until at least 15 minutes have passed and your eyes feel comfortable. If burning, pain, marked redness or blurred vision continues after the lenses are out, contact an eye care professional.
What Is LUMIFY Used For?
LUMIFY contains brimonidine tartrate 0.025% and is sold in Canada for temporary relief of eye redness caused by minor irritation. According to Bausch + Lomb Canada, it can begin reducing visible redness in about one minute and may last for up to eight hours.
That cosmetic improvement does not tell you why the eye became red. Dryness, allergies, smoke, long screen sessions, a poorly fitting lens and infection can all produce redness, but they do not need the same treatment. If you regularly reach for a redness drop while wearing contacts, the underlying trigger is worth discussing at your next eye exam.
Is LUMIFY a Lubricating Eye Drop?
No. LUMIFY is a medicated redness reliever. Lubricating drops and contact-lens rewetting drops are designed to add moisture or reduce friction. They solve a different problem.
|
Product type |
What it is for |
Can contacts stay in? |
|---|---|---|
|
LUMIFY |
Temporary relief of visible redness from minor irritation |
No. Remove lenses and wait at least 15 minutes in Canada. |
|
Contact-lens rewetting drops |
Adding moisture to the lens during wear |
Usually, but only when the label specifically says the drops are for contacts. |
|
Lubricating eye drops |
Relieving dry-eye symptoms on the eye surface |
It depends on the formula. Check the label before using them with lenses. |
|
Prescription eye drops |
Treating a diagnosed condition |
Follow the prescriber and product directions. Many require lens removal. |
Can LUMIFY Help With Contact-Lens Dryness?
LUMIFY may make a dry eye look less red, but it does not rehydrate the lens or correct the tear-film problem causing the discomfort. Using it for dryness can make the eye look calmer while the lens still feels irritating.
If your contacts feel dry, try this instead:
-
Use the right drop: Choose a rewetting drop labelled for your type of contact lens.
-
Give your eyes a break: Remove the lenses and wear glasses if discomfort does not settle quickly.
-
Check your habits: Long screen sessions, indoor heating, air conditioning and wearing lenses beyond their schedule can all contribute.
-
Look at the pattern: Dryness late in the day or with every new pair may point to a material, fit or care-system issue.
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Ask before switching: An optometrist can check the eye surface and recommend a lens or drop that suits your eyes.
For more practical comfort advice, read Tips and Tricks for Contact Lens Users and Why Do My Contacts Burn?
Which Eye Drops Can You Use With Contacts?
Use the wording on the package as your guide. A product that says it is a contact-lens rewetting drop is intended for use during lens wear. A general artificial tear may still require you to remove your contacts and wait before putting them back in. Preservative-free does not automatically mean contact-compatible.
If the label does not clearly say the product can be used while contacts are in, remove the lenses first. Do not assume that saline, multipurpose contact solution or a redness reliever can stand in for a rewetting drop. Each product has a different job.
When Red Eyes Need More Than a Drop
A mildly irritated eye may improve once the lens is removed. Some symptoms, however, should not be managed by repeatedly adding redness drops. Contact an eye care professional promptly if you notice:
-
Pain: especially pain that continues after the contact lens is removed
-
Light sensitivity: or difficulty keeping the eye open
-
Vision changes: including new blur, haze or reduced vision
-
Discharge or swelling: particularly if the eyelids are sticky or the redness is getting worse
- Persistent redness: that lasts more than three days or keeps returning with lens wear.
The Health Canada product monograph advises stopping use and speaking with a doctor if eye pain, vision changes, ongoing redness or irritation occur, or if the condition worsens or lasts longer than three days.
The Bottom Line
You can use LUMIFY when you are a contact-lens wearer, but the lenses must come out first. Apply one drop as directed, wait at least 15 minutes in Canada, and reinsert a clean lens only if the eye feels normal. For dryness or a gritty lens, choose a contact-compatible rewetting product instead of treating the redness alone.
If your current lenses regularly feel dry even with good habits, ask your optometrist whether a different material or replacement schedule could help. You can also explore daily contact lenses after your prescription and fit have been confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put LUMIFY directly over contact lenses?
No. Remove the lenses before applying LUMIFY. The Canadian directions say to wait at least 15 minutes before putting contacts back in.
How long after LUMIFY can I put my contacts in?
Wait at least 15 minutes in Canada. Reinsert lenses only if your eyes are comfortable and your vision is clear.
Why do some websites say to wait 10 minutes?
Product directions can differ by country. The Canadian LUMIFY label specifies at least 15 minutes, so follow the bottle sold in your market and any advice from your eye care professional.
Can I use LUMIFY before putting in daily contacts?
Yes, as long as the lenses are out when you apply the drop. Wait at least 15 minutes, then insert a fresh daily lens only if the eye feels normal.
Does LUMIFY help dry contacts?
No. It reduces visible redness but does not add moisture to a contact lens. Use a rewetting drop specifically labelled for contacts or remove the lenses and rest your eyes.
How often can adults use LUMIFY in Canada?
The Canadian directions for adults aged 18 and older state one drop in the affected eye every six to eight hours, up to four times daily. Do not exceed the label directions.
