AAOpt 2026: Brimonidine-hyaluronic acid drop sustains redness relief through 10 hours

Jacob Lang, OD, FAAO, presented a poster on a novel formulation combining hyaluronic acid and brimonidine for rapid relief of eye redness at AAOpt 2026 in Anaheim, California. The central finding he highlights is that the formulation was associated with improvement in redness as early as 30 seconds, with effects lasting for up to 10 hours. Lang describes the results as showing the new formulation was non-inferior to other brimonidine formulations for reducing eye redness.

A notable feature of the formulation is the addition of hyaluronic acid, which Lang describes as a natural lubricating agent. The poster’s focus, as he explains it, is not only on reducing redness but also on pairing brimonidine with a lubricating ingredient. He presents the rapid onset and extended duration as practical findings that optometrists could take back to their clinics.

Lang connects the topic to patients’ everyday concerns about appearance. He says eye redness is among the common complaints optometrists hear, and that appearance can matter in situations such as important meetings, special events, and photographs. In his view, redness relief may help patients look better and feel more confident about their appearance. He also notes that many different factors can contribute to eye redness, framing this as an opportunity for clinicians to help patients address an esthetic concern.

The main take-home points he emphasizes are the formulation’s quick onset and long-lasting improvement: redness relief reportedly began within about half a minute and continued for as long as 10 hours. Lang reiterates that the formulation combines hyaluronic acid with brimonidine and that the poster found it non-inferior to earlier brimonidine versions for eye redness. Overall, poster illustrates a potentially useful option for patients seeking redness relief, with lubrication as an added feature and speed and duration as its key reported benefits, according to Lang.