Eye Drops Can Replace Reading Glasses For Those With Presbopia

A nurse is helping an elderly woman read.


Those who suffer from blurry near vision caused by presbyopia (age-related lens changes that affect focusing and impact reading) now have another option available to them other than strong reading glasses.  The FDA approved eye drops in October 2021 (Vuity) and a recent study found a significant portion of people using them saw improvement in vision as soon as 15 minutes after putting the drops in.  They last about six hours.  The pilocarpine hydrochloride drops work by decreasing the pupil size.  Don’t drive at night after putting the drops in as they decrease night vision.

Eye Drops That Work Like Reading Glasses

A woman and an old lady sitting in a chair


A new eye drop called AGN-190584 is expected to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) later this year and could eliminate the need for reading glasses.  Made by Allergen Eye Care, a division of AbbVie, the pilocarpine solution which is meant to treat the symptoms of presbyopia—an age-related condition that causes gradual loss of the eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects.  Participants in a study of the drug found they gained three more lines on the reading chart in low light compared to those who received a placebo.  The drops begin working as soon as just 15 minutes after they were applied and reached their peak effectiveness after about an hour.  For glaucoma, pilocarpine improves the outflow of fluid from the eye that lowers the intraocular pressure.  With presbyopia patients, it’s being used to constrict the pupil.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/03/02/fda-approval-eye-drops-submitted-help-presbyopia-patients-read/6834903002/