Pilocarpine 1.25% and the changing landscape of presbyopia treatment

Abstract

Purpose of reviewDespite affecting approximately 1.8 billion individuals worldwide, until recently, a pharmacologic treatment for presbyopia was not available. This special commentary reviews the treatment of presbyopia with a focus on the recently approved medication Vuity (pilocarpine 1.25%, Allergan, an AbbVie Company).Recent FindingsVuity is a re-engineered formulation of pilocarpine 1.25% specifically designed for the treatment of presbyopia. Recently published results from the GEMINI 1 Phase 3 clinical trial reported improvement in distance corrected near vision without significant compromise in distance vision. No unexpected safety findings were reported with mild headache being the most common adverse event. Notably, there were no reported cases of retinal detachment or angle closure during the 30-day phase 3 clinical trials.SummaryVuity is the first treatment designed and FDA approved to treat the growing presbyopia market. Phase 3 clinical trials demonstrated its ability to improve near vision without significant compromise in distance vision. We recognize this paradigm shift in the treatment of presbyopia and anxiously await additional treatment options for this ubiquitous condition.

Effects and Pharmacological Use of Alkaloids on the Eyes

“…Presbyopia is known to occur due to the stiffening of the lens due to aging. About 1.25% pilocarpine is a muscarinic agent that induces miosis and ciliary body contraction and has been demonstrated to improve near vision without significantly impairing distance vision [14,15].…”