The FDA has just approved Vuity (pilocarpine HCl Ophthalmic Solution) 1.25% administered once daily eye drop for the treatment of presbyopia. Presbyopia affects many adults starting at the age of 40. With this change, the lens becomes less flexible and therefore it is more difficult to focus on things up close. Many people will find themselves using reading glasses, holding text or print further away or increasing the size of the font that is being read.
Vuity is the first FDA approved eye drop used for the treatment of presbyopia. The drop is delivered with pHast technology, which allows the drop to neutralize quickly with the pH of the natural eye’s tear film.
The drug has gone through two phase 3 clinical studies known as GEMINI 1 and GEMINI 2. Both studies have proven that there was an improvement of at least three lines in near vision in dim light conditions without the sacrifice of losing distance vision. The study was measured over a 30-day period. There were no serious side effects or adverse events that were noted during both studies with the use of this drug. Less than 5% of participants had the side effect of headache and eye redness.
The drop is administered once daily and effects can be seen in as quickly as 15 minutes and lasts up to 6 hours. Pilocarpine is an established, safe and well-tolerated eye therapeutic. Vuity uses the eye’s own ability to make the pupil size smaller which helps to improve near vision without affecting or decreasing your distance vision.
We look forward to hearing more about this drop and it’s usefulness for presbyopic patients.