Vuity is a FDA-approved eye drop that makes it easier for patients with mild to moderate presbyopia to manage their condition. Traditionally, presbyopia was treated with either reading glasses, progressive glasses or multifocal contact lenses.
Since almost everyone has presbyopia, this product's unique drug delivery method makes it an easy and low cost option to help people across the globe. Why worry about looking old in reading glasses or wearing contacts when you can use an eye drop. The key issue is that it is not for everyone, which is why we stress the importance of a thorough eye examination and fundus exam before taking it.
Presbyopia is a normal part of aging, where close-up objects become harder to see due to normal changes in our eye's structure.
When we are younger, the crystalline lens inside of our eyes is thin, clear, and very flexible. The crystalline lens inside of our eyes can change shape and focus when looking at nearby objects, but as we age, this structure begins to change. In addition to becoming thicker and thicker, it becomes less flexible, making it more difficult to see up close.
Lens becomes thicker and harder around the age of 40, but some people may get it a little sooner, others a little later.
Here are some of the most common symptoms of presbyopia:
Vuity eye drops were initially evaluated in two phase 2b trials. In phase 3 trials, it was evaluated in low light (mesopic) and bright light (photopic) conditions on over 1000 participants. For up to 30 days, participants received one drop of 1.25% pilocarpine HCl ophthalmic solution in each eye, once daily, which is optimal for treating presbyopia.
Pilocarpine is a cholinergic muscarinic agonist that activates muscarinic receptors found in smooth muscles, such as the iris sphincter and the ciliary muscle.
Pilocarpine creates a pinhole effect, which reduces the pupil size and improves depth of focus.
Vuity causes the iris sphincter muscle to contract, constricting the pupil by 40-50% thereby improving near and intermediate visual acuity while maintaining some pupillary response to light. While doing this, the pupil remains dynamic.
Additionally, vuity may cause the ciliary muscle to contract and may lead the eye to a more myopic state.
Vuity is not only a low dose concentration of Pilocarpine, but it also uses a unique technology that adjusts rapidly to physiologic pH to increase corneal penetration. When a vuity eyedrop is placed on the eye, it matches the pH of our eye so it increases corneal penetration and doesn’t burn. Regular pilocarpine is acidic, so it burns the eye and ionizes so it doesn't penetrate well, unlike vuity.
When a vuity eye drop is placed on the tear film, the pH of the tear film rapidly adjusts within 60 seconds (to about 6.5), allowing for increased corneal penetration.
Vuity eye drops are ideal for the following candidates:
Before prescribing vuity, a comprehensive eye examination and dilated fundus examination are necessary to rule out any retinal ocular diseases or prior history of inflammation. You should also be cautious while driving at night and in poor lighting after using vuity eye drops.
While most people with presbyopia can enjoy the benefits of vuity eye drops, it is extremely important for any starting vuit to undergo a thorough exam before starting
A vuity eye exam is a comprehensive dilated eye exam, with fundus photography and a thorough review of ocular health.