Healthcare: FDA says newly-approved eye drops could reduce need for reading glasses

*The new US Food and Drug Administration-approved eye drop product has been described as a game changer, as it reportedly starts working in about 15 minutes

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

A new eye drop medication for farsightedness is being heralded as a game-changer by both patients and doctors.

It was learnt VUITY, an eye drop product produced by AbbVie, which the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved, is reportedly so effective, that it could reduce the need for reading glasses among those affected by presbyopia.

ConsumerConnect reports Presbyopia is an extremely common condition for middle-aged and older consumers.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology data claims that it affects an estimated 1.8 billion people worldwide.

According to AbbVie, VUITY starts taking effect in about 15 minutes. For six to 10 hours, the company says consumers of the product should be able to see things more clearly and sharply.

The eye drops work by reducing a person’s pupil size and contracting certain muscles in the eye to help them see up close.

In regard to the reviews, in EyesOn’s analysis of VUITY, both doctors and patients were asked to weigh in on their experience with the medicine. Everyone agreed that the label “game-changer” fits perfectly.

“Our patients have not really had any options for the treatment of presbyopia, besides just dealing with it or wearing bifocals, progressives, or even contact lenses,” said Dr. Nandini Venkateswaran, a cataract, cornea, and refractive surgery specialist at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.

“VUITY is going to provide clinicians with the opportunity to not only address presbyopia as a condition, straightforwardly in the clinic, but then also offer a solution: ‘Here’s an eye drop that’s easy to use, that’s easy to access, and will allow you to live a more functional lifestyle without always depending on your glasses or readers, if you are a good candidate.’”

Toni Wright, one of the participants in a clinical trial to test VUITY, also gave the drug her blessing.

Wright told CBS News that “it’s definitely a life changer.”

It is also noted patients will still need reading glasses, but just not as often.

Wright further said she found that she still needed her reading glasses after taking the eye drops, but just not as much.

But Sathi Maiti, an ocular surface disease fellow at the Periman Eye Institute, said consumers shouldn’t be too quick to throw their glasses away. Why?

Maiti stated: “I think it is most likely people will end up still needing some kind of eyeglass or contact lens correction, especially given that VUITY was only shown to work for 6 hours.

“Even if people do use it, they will probably still need some type of reading prescription for the end of the day or days they choose not to use VUITY.

“It may also end up being something patients use in combination with glasses for their presbyopia, such as wearing their glasses when they require sharp near vision at work, and using VUITY for when they go out, on vacation, or are just at home and don’t need as clear near vision.”

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