How Fast Does Vuity Work And Other Common Questions

Answer

Thanks for reaching out! We're more than happy to answer this question about Vuity for you. Since you also said you had many questions about the drug, in the sections below, I've answered the most common questions that have come up about Vuity.

We'll start off with your main question (how fast does Vuity work).

How Fast Does Vuity Work?

Vuity starts to work about 15 minutes after instilling the eye drops. Studies show that the peak effect occurs about one hour after administration.

What Is Vuity Used For?

Vuity is FDA approved to treat 'Blurry Near Vision', which is also known as presbyopia.

Presbyopia can occur because our eyes change as we age, and the lens of the eye losses elasticity (becomes harder, and less flexible). This change can cause difficulty reading or seeing things up close.

It is important to note that Vuity does not affect distance vision (neither improves nor worsens it).

What Drug Is In Vuity?

Vuity contains pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 1.25% (12.5 mg/mL).

How Does Vuity Work?

Pilocarpine is classified as a cholinergic muscarinic receptor agonist and works by constricting the pupil (specifically contracts smooth muscles in the eye such as the iris sphincter muscle and ciliary muscle). This constriction of the pupil improves near and intermediate visual acuity (i.e., sharpness).

Vuity is indicated for adults with presbyopia (difficulty reading or seeing things up close caused by the loss of elasticity of the eye lens), which commonly occurs with aging.

Are Vuity Eye Drops Sterile?

Yes, they are. Every bottle of Vuity contains pilocarpine hydrochloride 1.25%, prepared as an isotonic, colorless, sterile ophthalmic solution

Can You Use Vuity With Other Eye Drops?

What Are The Common Side Effects Of Vuity?

Vuity is generally well tolerated but can cause mild side effects. The most common are:

• Headache
• Conjunctival hyperemia (i.e., eye redness)
• Blurred vision
• Eye pain
• Visual impairment
• Eye irritation
• increased tear production

It is important to note that pilocarpine eye drops (the drug in Vuity) have been on the market for years for glaucoma, but Vuity is in a concentration not yet available previously and contains a different type of buffering vehicle that improves tolerability. Studies show that Vuity is better tolerated than other pilocarpine eye drops because of this new buffering vehicle.

This new buffering vehicle is known as 'pHast', which is designed to rapidly equilibrate to the properties of the tear film, which in turn provides greater comfort and tolerability. You can read more about this patented buffering vehicle here.

The prescribing information does warn that rarely, retinal detachment has been reported with other pilocarpine eye drops (i.e., when used for glaucoma). Be sure to seek immediate medical care if they experience sudden vision loss.

What Are All Of The Ingredients In Vuity?

Each mL of Vuity contains:

• Pilocarpine hydrochloride 1.25% (12.5 mg), equivalent to 1.06% (10.6 mg) pilocarpine free-base.
• Benzalkonium chloride 0.0075%
• Boric acid
• Sodium citrate dihydrate
• Sodium chloride
• Purified water
• May also include hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide for pH adjustment

How Is Vuity Dosed?

Vuity is FDA-approved to be dosed as follows:

• Instill one drop in each eye once daily

Can You Use Vuity More Than Once A Day?

Currently, Vuity is only FDA-approved for once-daily dosing, not for as-needed or repeat dosing.  However, studies are ongoing to evaluate more frequent dosing (e.g., twice daily).

How Well Does Vuity Work?

In two clinical trials, Vuity was found to help individuals with presbyopia read a few more lines (3 lines or more) of decreasing font size on an eye chart. The specific test used in clinical trials is known as the 'distance corrected near visual acuity' test (DCNVA).

I mentioned this above, but it's worth repeating, Vuity improves near vision but does not affect distance vision.

The prescribing information contains data from these clinical trials and notes that in one trial, 31% of participants gained 3-lines or more in the 'distance corrected near visual acuity' test, and in another trial, 26% of participants gained 3-lines or more in the 'distance corrected near visual acuity' test. The results are below:

How Long Does Vuity Last?

In total, Vuity works for around 10 hours, but the effects gradually start to lessen about 6 hours after administration.

In the table, you can review data reported in the Vuity Prescribing Information that shows the effects of the drug starting to wear off during hour 6 after administration.

Can You Drive After Using Vuity?

Vuity can sometimes make your vision appear darker, so it is important to be cautious when driving at night, or doing any activity in poor lighting.

Additionally, it has been reported that Vuity may cause problems when changing focus between near and distant objects, which again, could impair your driving ability.

Does Vuity Replace Reading Glasses?

Since Vuity can improve your near vision, it may reduce your need for reading glasses in certain situations if you have mild presbyopia. However, and the manufacturer of Vuity makes note of this, the drug is not intended to replace other options for age-related Blurry Near Vision such as reading glasses.

Can You Use Vuity If You Wear Contacts?

Yes, you can. However, you need to remove your contact lenses before using Vuity, then wait 10 minutes after dosing before putting them back in.

How Much Does Vuity Cost?

Vuity costs about $75-80/month (for one bottle), and, unfortunately, it is unlikely that the majority of insurance plans will cover it since it wouldn't be classified as medically necessary (it may even be classified as 'cosmetic', typically, a non-covered benefit).

This isn't to say all insurance companies won't cover it, so please be sure to check your formulary or contact your insurance.

How Big Is The Vuity Bottle?

Each bottle of Vuity is 2.5mL.

How Many Drops Does Vuity Have And How Long Does One Bottle Last?

Each bottle of Vuity should contain around 50 drops. If used as directed (one drop daily in both eyes), one bottle will last about 25 days.

How Long Is Vuity Good For After It Has Been Opened?

Vuity contains preservatives, and after the bottle has been opened, Vuity can be used until the expiration date listed on the bottle.

Final Words

Thanks so much for reaching out and I hope this helps!