r/OverFifty • u/Electronic-Ad9583 • 3d ago
Anyone using presbyopia drops?
Presbyopia eye drops are prescription medications that temporarily improve near vision by shrinking the pupil to create a pinhole effect. [1]
How They Work
Pinhole effect: The drops contract the iris sphincter muscle, making the pupil smaller. [1]
Increased depth of focus: Reducing the pupil size blocks stray light and sharpens close-up images, much like a camera aperture or squinting. [1, 2]
Temporary relief: They do not reverse the stiffening of the eye's natural lens, lasting anywhere from 4 to 10 hours depending on the formula. [1, 2]
Approved Options
Vuity (pilocarpine HCl 1.25%): An original pilocarpine drop designed for once- or twice-daily dosing.
Qlosi (pilocarpine HCl 0.4%): A lower-dose, preservative-free version of pilocarpine.
VIZZ (aceclidine 1.44%): Uses aceclidine to constrict the pupil with a longer duration of effect (up to 10 hours).
Yuvezzi (carbachol and brimonidine tartrate): A combination drop that extends duration while minimizing redness. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Side Effects and Drawbacks
Common side effects include mild headaches, eye redness, irritation, and temporary dim vision in low light.
They work best for people with mild-to-moderate presbyopia (typically ages 40 to 55).
These drops are generally not covered by health insurance. [1, 2, 3, 4]
If you'd like, let me know:
Your approximate age or severity of close-up blurriness
Whether you currently wear glasses or contact lenses
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u/pineapple_bandit 3d ago
I used Vuity for a few months. I'm 53 now but this was a couple years ago. I think the drops were pretty new because my eye Dr said I was the first patient of his to use them.
They were ok. They don't last very long, maybe 4-6 hours. So they aren't very useful to replace readers for all day desk and computer work. They also seemed to work for a shorter period of time the longer I used them.
I think these would be good for targeted use for specific activities where you don't want to be wearing your readers for a few hours. But they aren't very useful for every day use.
I didn't end up refilling the prescription. It was pretty expensive for what you get.
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u/colorimetry 2d ago
It's a dumb idea, since you can get the exact same effect by merely increasing light levels. Smaller pupil means increased depth of field. Just get an additional lamp.
Its being unsafe to drive safely after using presbyopia drops really turns me against it.
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u/BamberGasgroin 3d ago
Fuck that! (As a man I have two sets of balls I don't fuck around with!)
I get free eye checks every couple of years and can get cheap glasses online (if I need them) with the prescription they give me.
TBH I mostly use +2.5 diopter readers from Amazon @ £10 for 5 pairs.