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Reading glasses end up in a lot of pockets and purses for one main reason: presbyopia. Few eye conditions are as widespread around the globe.
Most people simply experience it as a natural, nearly inevitable part of getting older. Plenty of older adults keep reading glasses or a magnifier close at hand because of it.
The Tenpoint Yuvezzi is a new eye drop that aims to give temporary relief from that problem.
The US Food and Drug Administration recently approved it. The drop goes after presbyopia from two directions, and it is being touted as more effective than similar products already sold.
The pitch is that it can reverse the age-related condition without any need for surgery.
What Tenpoint Says It Delivers
Tenpoint describes Yuvezzi as a presbyopia eye drop that can keep close-up vision crisp for up to eight hours after a single application. The company says it starts working within 30 minutes.
In practice, you would put it in during the morning and carry on with your day. Trouble with near vision should not get in the way.
The company also claims that users can read at least three extra lines on the eye chart compared with their usual ability, even in low light. It says your distance vision is not affected.
Two Active Ingredients, Two Jobs
Yuvezzi is not the first presbyopia drop on the market. It is supposedly the first to work on two fronts, and it also lasts longer.
The product currently sold, Vuity, only works for a maximum of six hours.
Two active ingredients make the difference. The first is carbachol, which constricts the pupils, shrinking them for sharper near vision.
The second is brimonidine tartrate. It stops the pupils from dilating (becoming larger) for as long as the drug is active.
Carbachol is the main driver behind the sharper eyesight. Brimonidine tartrate still pulls its weight, since it helps extend how long the drop lasts.
It also helps reduce the eye redness that is common with carbachol.
How Often You Would Use It
With an effect that lasts eight hours, most people will need only one application over the course of a day. The company recommends using it once daily, which should cover most needs given how long it lasts.
Some people may want another dose later on, once the evening arrives. If you are at home at that hour, your regular reading glasses are probably the better choice.
Side Effects and Safety
Tenpoint Therapeutics says some patients in its studies reported irritation, headaches, impaired vision and temporary eye pain. All of these effects were mild.
They did not persist, and they went away on their own at some point while the medicine was still working.
The company also found no serious treatment-related side effects after a one-year study. That sounds very promising.
Both ingredients have treated other eye conditions for the past 30 years. That means a lot of research exists on each one, which likely makes the drop very safe.
When Will It Reach Shelves?
There is no word yet on when Yuvezzi will hit the market. Since it has already cleared FDA approval, it probably will not take long before doctors can prescribe it.
Liam Henderson
Turning an obsession with deep research into guides that actually make sense is what keeps me up at night. I focus on stripping away the online noise so you get clear, actionable insights you can actually use, without having to dig through pages of fluff.