THE ESSENTIAL
- For now, VUITY is a temporary solution that only lasts six to ten hours and therefore requires patients to keep their glasses on.
- Eventually, the researchers hope that their eye drops can be administered several times a day.
It is a treatment that might well change the daily life of all people with presbyopia: a simple eye drop can improve near vision for six to ten hours. With this remedy, you no longer need to wear glasses all the time.
Presbyopia: difficulty seeing up close
“Most adults face presbyopia or near vision difficulties as we age, explains Michael Severino, president of AbbVie, the company that developed this eye drops in a communiqué. From around the age of 40, many find themselves using reading glasses, holding text further away, or even increasing the font size and lighting of screens to try to see more clearly.”. Constraints that this new eyewash promises to remove.
Encouraging results in clinical trials
Lthe United States Medicines Agency (The Food and Drug Administration – FDA) authorized this eye drop called VUITY in October 2021 because the results of two phase 3 clinical studies were encouraging. Indeed, following 30 days, patients who had received this eye drop were able to read at least three additional lines in near vision. Additionally, no serious side effects were observed but some participants reported headaches and red eyes. Finally, distance vision was not impaired either.
The eye drops acts in fifteen minutes
In the United States, eye drops can be obtained by prescription. The currently recommended dosage is one drop of eye drops per eye per day. “We are thrilled to be able to bring this treatment, the first of its kind, to market sooner than expected for the millions of presbyopic Americans who might benefit from it. said Jag Dosanjh, senior vice president of medical therapeutics at Allergan. This significant innovation in age-related eye health reflects our commitment to advancing eye care and expands our portfolio of leading treatments for eye care providers and their patients.”. Concretely, once put in the eyes, the liquid acts in fifteen minutes for a duration ranging from six to ten hours depending on the patient. Currently, another phase 3 clinical trial is underway to determine if usage might be increased to twice daily to cover most of a day.
