VUITY™ is a new eye drop for patients age 40-55 who are struggling with age-related loss of reading vision. These are some frequently asked questions our office has been receiving about VUITY.
Who is VUITY for and when was it approved?
VUITY™ (pilocarpine HCI ophthalmic solution) 1.25% was FDA-approved for patients age 40-55 diagnosed with Presbyopia. It was FDA approved on October 29, 2021.
How can I get VUITY?
VUITY will be available to patients by prescription only.
What does VUITY treat?
Presbyopia is the natural aging of the lens in your eye that causes reading (near vision) to become more difficult. VUITY helps you focus on things up close, such as cell phones, books, menus, etc.
How does it work?
VUITY uses the eye’s own ability to reduce pupil size to improve near vision.
Will it effect my distance vision?
The effect on distance vision should be minimal. Patients should be advised to exercise caution in night driving and other hazardous occupations. Thankfully most patients on Vuity have not found night driving to be a problem. If you currently need glasses or contacts for distance, you will still need them when using VUITY
How long does it take to start working?
Effects of VUITY start in as little as 15 minutes.
How long do the effects last?
In clinical trials, the VUITY eye drop lasted 6 hours, with some patients experiencing effects for even longer.
How often can the drop be used?
VUITY is intended to be used as a once-daily eye drop.
Is VUITY covered by insurance?
No, VUITY is not covered by insurance and is a cash pay treatment option.
What are the potential side effects?
The most common side effects are headaches and eye redness. Data shows that about 15% of patients experience headaches, but mostly on the first or second day. We are advising patients to use the drops every day for one week because headaches associated with the drop often decrease with regular use.
Some patients who already have small pupils report a “dimming” effect of their vision, but this is not common.
How much does VUITY cost and how long should a bottle last?
VUITY is around $80 per 2.5 ml bottle. If used once daily the drops should last approximately one month.
Can I use VUITY if I wear contacts or glasses?
Yes. Patients often will continue to wear distance powered contact lenses, and use Vuity to improve near vision. However, if you wear contacts be sure to remove them prior to VUITY use and wait 10 minutes before reinserting them.
Can I use VUITY if I have had cataract surgery?
Yes, but the near vision improvements are likely to be more limited. The drops were not studied in individuals who have had cataract surgery, and usually patients who have had cataract surgery are older than 55 years old (older than the age range of recommended use).
Can I use VUITY if I have had LASIK?
Yes, patients who have had LASIK may be able to benefit from VUITY, depending on age and the degree of presbyopia.
What if I fall out of the age range for VUITY but am struggling with near vision?
The drug was studied in a group of people aged 40-55 and therefore the official approval from the FDA is for people in that age group. If you fall outside the recommended age range for Vuity we may recommend additional options to help treat presbyopia at your eye exam.