When reading gets harder with age: Know your options
(BPT) - Sponsored by Tenpoint Therapeutics, Ltd.
At first, it may seem like a small annoyance. You hold a menu a little farther away. You increase the font on your phone. You step into brighter light to read a label at the store. You keep reading glasses easily accessible, in your purse, car, desk drawer and kitchen, just in case.
If any of that sounds familiar, you're not alone. These everyday "workarounds" can be signs of presbyopia, a change in vision that makes it harder to see things up close. And while it's a natural part of getting older for many, it can still add a lot of fuss to routines that used to feel like simple daily tasks.
"Many patients are surprised by how significantly presbyopia can affect their daily lives," said Dr. Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA. "My patients tell me that they find themselves adjusting lighting, increasing font size or relying on workarounds to read more clearly. Presbyopia may be a normal part of aging, but that does not make its impact insignificant for the person experiencing it."
Why close-up vision changes with age
Presbyopia is a common change in vision that makes it harder to see close-up objects clearly. In fact, according to the American Optometric Association, about 9 in 10 adults in the U.S. age 45+ are affected by presbyopia.
It is most often caused by changes in the eye due to aging. These changes usually happen around age 40, when the lens in our eyes begins to stiffen. Over time, this stiffening makes it harder to focus on close-up objects like text messages, menus or fine print.
Common signs and symptoms of presbyopia can include headaches after reading for periods of time, eye strain after close-up tasks like computer work, dizziness, difficulty seeing at night and trouble seeing in dim lighting.
Understanding your options
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing blurry close-up vision. Traditional approaches such as glasses (readers, bifocals, progressive lenses) or contact lenses (multifocal or monovision) may work well for some. Others may find them inconvenient or difficult to adjust to and consider surgical procedures to reshape the eye or replace the lens. For adults looking for less invasive options that can fit into daily life, prescription presbyopia eye drops may be worth exploring.
John Hovanesian, M.D., FACS, of Harvard Eye Associates, adds, "Some of my patients do well with reading glasses or other vision correction options, while others are frustrated with the daily workarounds of presbyopia and are looking for a new approach. That's why it's important for you to have a conversation with your eye doctor about daily habits and visual needs, in addition to receiving an eye exam, so you can find the best option for you."
A prescription presbyopia eye drop option
YUVEZZI™ (carbachol and brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution) 2.75%/0.1% is a once-daily prescription eye drop for presbyopia, or blurry close-up vision due to age, that can be used your way. It can be used on its own instead of reading glasses or with contacts or glasses you use to see far away.*
In medical studies, YUVEZZI provided up to 8 continuous hours of improved close-up vision.† As soon as 30 minutes after taking YUVEZZI, some people could clearly read at least 3 more lines on an eye chart in low light without losing distance vision.
In medical studies, the most common side effects of YUVEZZI were headache, impaired vision and, upon instillation, eye pain and/or eye irritation. Patients should not use YUVEZZI if they are allergic to any of its ingredients or if you currently have inflammation of the iris (iritis).
In medical studies, most side effects were generally mild, didn't last long, and went away on their own.
*If you wear contact lenses, remove them before using YUVEZZI. Wait at least 10 minutes after using YUVEZZI before you put them back in your eyes.
†About half of people in medical studies could read close-up at hour 8.
Learn more
If blurry close-up vision is adding more fuss to your day, it may be time to discuss with an eye doctor to learn more and see if YUVEZZI is right for you. For more information and resources, and to find an eye doctor who treats presbyopia near you, visit www.YUVEZZI.com.
USE
YUVEZZI is a prescription eye drop for adults with blurry close-up vision due to age.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Do not use YUVEZZI if you are allergic to any of its ingredients or if you currently have inflammation of the iris (iritis).
Before taking YUVEZZI, tell your doctor if you have depression, low blood pressure, or circulation problems.
YUVEZZI may cause temporary blurry, dim, or dark vision. If you experience this, avoid driving, using machinery, and participating in hazardous activities. Use caution when night driving and in other activities in low light.
Call your doctor right away if you suddenly have flashes of light, floaters, or vision loss.
Do not let the tip of the vial touch your eye, eyelid, or any other surface.
The most common side effects of YUVEZZI are headache, impaired vision, and eye pain and/or eye irritation upon use. These are not all of the possible side effects of YUVEZZI.
Most side effects were generally mild, didn't last long, and went away on their own.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see theBrief Summary for more information.
MAT-US-YZ-0355
YUVEZZI is a trademark of Visus Therapeutics, Inc. Visus Therapeutics, Inc., is an affiliate of Tenpoint Therapeutics, Ltd., Warren, NJ 07059 USA. All other trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.
Source: BrandPoint
