Presbyopia affects an estimated 128 million Americans. It occurs when the lens of the eyes hardens with age. This makes it difficult to focus on nearby objects. Common treatment options were previously limited to corrective lenses and pilocarpine-based drops. Note that pilocarpine-based drops can cause side effects, including dim vision, brow heaviness, and blurring of distant vision.
The United States Food and Drug Administration has approved another prescription eye drop from the pharmaceutical company LEZN Therapeutics. The product is called Vizz. It is based on the active ingredient aceclidine and promises to improve near vision for up to ten hours. Using the eye drop potentially reduces the need for wearing corrective or prescription lenses.
Vizz works primarily by constricting the iris sphincter muscle. This creates a pinhole effect that sharpens focus on near objects while preserving distance vision. The mechanism differs from pilocarpine drops. Pilocarpine stimulates the ciliary muscle and may cause unwanted effects. The selective action of aceclidine is expected to reduce these issues significantly.
The iris sphincter muscle is a circular band of smooth muscle fibers located in the iris of the eye. It is primarily responsible for controlling the size of the pupil by contracting to constrict it in bright light or during near focusing. This action regulates light entering the eye and enhances depth of focus. This contributes to clearer near vision. Vizz induces its constriction.
FDA approval was granted following results from 3 randomized and controlled Phase 3 trials known as CLARITY. These trials included more than 600 participants and generated over 30000 cumulative treatment days. No serious treatment-related adverse events were reported. The participants typically experienced improved vision within 30 minutes of application.
Reported side effects during clinical trials were generally mild and short-lived. The most common issues included instillation site irritation, dim vision, headache, and eye redness. These affected a minority of participants. Vizz delivered consistent near vision enhancement without significant visual trade-offs or long-term complications in contrast to pilocarpine drops.
The approval of Vizz marks a significant milestone in presbyopia management by offering a better, non-invasive, and accessible daily treatment alternative to glasses or contact lenses. LENZ Therapeutics expects the product to be available by prescription in the fourth quarter of 2025. Initial samples are targeted to reach healthcare providers by October 2025.
Presbyopia or age-related farsightedness or blurry near vision occurs due to changes in the lens of the eyes and surrounding muscles. The lens gradually hardens and loses elasticity, while relevant muscles weaken over time. This reduces the ability of the lens to change shape for focusing on nearby objects. The becomes noticeable in individuals over the age of forty.
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