Can eye drops replace your reading glasses?
The United States Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first eye drops to improve age-related myopia. Vuity is an eye drop solution that you can apply throughout the day for better vision and no longer need your reading glasses everywhere. Drop is most effective in people aged 40 to 55 who struggle to see clearly when performing daily tasks—such as reading your phone or computer screen.
how it works
It is recommended to apply one drop per day to each eye. The drops start working 15 minutes after application and the effect lasts for about six hours.
Vuity is a formulation of a well-known drug known as Pilocarpine. The researchers used technology to allow the eye drops to rapidly adjust to the pH of the tear film. VUT takes advantage of our eye’s ability to reduce the size of the pupil – near and intermediate vision is improved, while far vision is maintained.
Each prescription lasts about 30 days and the drops’ effectiveness will increase after 30 days of use.
eye drops clinical trial results
Two randomized clinical trials have been conducted involving 750 subjects with presbyopia aged 40 to 55 years. Half of the participants received new eye drops, while the others received placebo eye drops.
Participants instilled one eye drop of VUITY or a placebo in each eye once a day. The drug started showing positive effects in about 15 minutes, with sharp vision lasting about 6-10 hours.
The researchers did not report any serious side effects in any of the clinical studies. The most common adverse reactions included light-headedness and redness of the eyes. People may also experience temporary challenges in focusing their attention due to the use of eye drops.
Who can use it all?
Drops may be offered to people who have mild to intermediate presbyopia. Unfortunately, eye drops are less effective after the age of 65 due to the effects of further aging. The cost for a 30-day prescription of Vuity eye drops is about $79.