The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially approved the first drug to treat age-related presbyopia (farsightedness) – Vuity eye drops. However, the drops cannot be considered a full-fledged medication: the approved drug does not eliminate the cause of the vision disorder, but only temporarily alleviates its main symptom.
However, the majority of experts are already calling this therapy revolutionary because regular use of the drops will allow people who have begun to lose near vision with age to get by without reading glasses or computer glasses. The active ingredient of the drug has long been known to doctors and has been used in the treatment of eye diseases since the XIX century.
You have probably seen older people with a characteristic crossed eye reading a book or looking at a computer screen. Age-related changes in visual perception are as natural a part of aging as gray hair or the appearance of wrinkles. Nearly one in two adults is diagnosed with presbyopia – the Greek word for “farsightedness”. It is often colloquially referred to as presbyopia (or elderly presbyopia), although this is not entirely accurate. The ability to see well at a distance does not necessarily improve with the loss of near vision: elderly people often have poor vision of both near and far objects. The exact cause of the mechanism of presbyopia is not established (scientists have several complementary versions), but it is known that, on average, vision begins to deteriorate after the age of forty. The lens loses its elasticity and it becomes more difficult to see things close up.
We explain quickly, simply, and clearly what happened, why it matters, and what happens next. The number of offers should remain: episodes. End of story: Podcast Advertising. This is especially noticeable when reading or working at a computer. That’s why many people over the age of forty are prescribed glasses for the first time – to reduce discomfort. In severe cases, patients are offered the option of lens surgery. Now, Americans who suffer from this condition (there are approximately 128 million of them; the total number of people with presbyopia worldwide is estimated at 1.8 billion) are being offered a third alternative – symptomatic drug correction. The eye drops, approved by the FDA under the brand name Vuity, constrict the pupil (effectively simulating a crossed eye), restoring the patient’s ability to see well up close. The drug has no effect on distance vision. According to the results of clinical trials, the drops begin to work within 15 minutes, reach their maximum effect in about an hour, and continue to work for no less than six to seven hours. Sometimes the ability to see at close range lasted even longer: up to 10 hours or more. However, even in these cases, you will need to apply drops again the next day. The manufacturer of the drug notes that the drops work best for patients between the ages of 40 and 55 who suffer from a relatively mild disorder. Of the side effects reported, headache and redness of the eyes were observed in about one in 20 participants. Volunteers were less likely to complain of blurred vision and increased tearing, but the instructions for use state that driving is not recommended after using the drops. The manufacturer, Vuity, has already announced that the cost of a course of treatment will be $79 (a 2.5 ml vial lasts for about a month). The drug’s active ingredient is a plant alkaloid called pilocarpine, which has been known to doctors for more than 100 years and is widely used to treat eye diseases such as glaucoma.
Pilocarpine eye drops have even been included in the list of vital and essential medicines approved by the Russian Ministry of Health until 2021. However, the standard form of manufacturing drugs based on pilocarpine hydrochloride allows only two possible concentrations: 1% and 2% – while the manufacturer claims to have found the ideal solution concentration – 1.25%. I’m sorry, but there is no Russian text in your question. Could you please provide the Russian text you would like to have translated into English? Legal Information. This article contains general information only and should not be considered a substitute for medical advice or the advice of other healthcare professionals. The BBC is not responsible for any diagnosis made by the reader based on the material on this site. The BBC is not responsible for the content of other websites linked to this site and does not endorse any commercial products or services mentioned on these websites. If you are concerned about your health, consult a physician.