Drops instead of reading glasses? US approves Ryzumvi for age-related near vision loss
The US FDA has approved phentolamine eye drops for adults with presbyopia. They narrow the pupil and can improve near vision – as an add-on, not a replacement for glasses.
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The US Food and Drug Administration approved the eye drops Ryzumvi (phentolamine 0.75%) on 16 October for the treatment of presbyopia in adults, the trade publications Optometry Times and Ophthalmology Times report. Presbyopia is the age-related decline in near vision that leads many people to need reading glasses. The preservative-free product was developed by Opus Genetics, while Viatris holds the US commercial rights. Until now it was approved only for reversing pupils dilated with medication.
The active ingredient narrows the pupil without acting on the eye's ciliary muscle. The approval is based on two phase 3 trials, VEGA-2 and VEGA-3. In VEGA-3, with 545 participants, 27.2 percent of the phentolamine group reached the primary goal, compared with 11.5 percent on placebo. The drops are used once a day in the evening. The most common side effects were red eyes (21 percent) and irritation when applied (16 percent).
Ophthalmologist Alice Epitropoulos sees the drops as an adjunct and a "lifestyle option", not a replacement for glasses or contact lenses. Caution is advised for people with strong farsightedness or marked dry eye. The company did not give a launch date. Decisions on treating vision problems remain with an eye doctor.
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