By Dr. Jill Finke

VUITY 1.25% is a new prescription eye drop formulated to improve reading vision in adults. Most adults notice a decrease in reading vision beginning in their 40s. This is due to the onset of presbyopia. Presbyopia is caused by a reduction in your eyes’ ability to “zoom in” or focus at near.

One drop of VUITY in the morning in each eye works to constrict your pupil size. When the pupil is smaller with VUITY, many adults note a two to three line improvement in their reading vision abilities on the vision chart.

Studies have shown the eyedrop to be most effective between the ages of 40 to 55. The most common side effects are headache and eye redness. Due to the constriction of pupil size, caution when driving at night or performing hazardous activities in poor light is advised. Some patients also reported temporary problems when changing focus between near and distance objects.

Additionally, rare cases of retinal detachment have been reported with other similar medicines. Immediate medical care would be advised with sudden onset of vision loss, new flashing lights, or new floating spots or shadows in your vision. If you are a contact lens wearer, you should remove your lenses prior to the instillation of VUITY and wait 10 minutes after dosing before reinserting your contact lenses.

A month’s supply of VUITY costs around $80. For presbyopic adults looking to reduce their dependence on reading glasses, VUITY has been a welcome new treatment option. If you are interested in learning more about this promising new eyedrop, contact your eye care provider for an appointment to find out if this medication is right for you.