Is it medically bad to put Visine eye drops in your eyes everyday?

Question

I've been doing it for over ten years now because I walk up with really red eyes. It this a bad habit? Will it cause damage later in my life?

Correction: I wake up every morning with red eyes.

Answer 1

It is not recommended. Visine constricts the tiny blood vessels, thereby reducing the redness. But of course, it also constricts vital blood flow to the eye.
Your daily use of Visine is probably what is causing your extreme redness. It is a well-know side effect of too much Visine use.

Answer 2

Your eyes are addicted to the Visine. It's not intended for daily use and like the person before me said, it's a vasoconstrictor so it makes the blood vessels tighten up (that's how it gets the red out), but when it wears off, you get what is called a "rebound effect" aka. redder eyes.

You'd be better off tapering off the Visine and then switching to something that does not get the red out, but rather lubricates the eyes and is intended for daily use. I personally like GenTeal drops or gel. It has a preservative in it which neutralizes when it hits the eye, so that preservative issues are avoided.