The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first aceclidine-based eye drops specifically designed to treat presbyopia—a common age-related condition that impairs near vision and affects over 100 million adults in the U.S. These newly approved drops, called VIZZ, are expected to hit the market within the next three months.
A Non-Invasive Daily Solution for Near Vision
Developed by LENZ Therapeutics, VIZZ is an aceclidine ophthalmic solution intended for daily use. It provides clear near vision for up to 10 hours with a single application, offering a non-invasive alternative to reading glasses for adults dealing with presbyopia.
“This FDA approval marks a pivotal achievement for LENZ and represents a major leap forward in treatment options for the 128 million Americans living with age-related near vision loss,” said Eef Schimmelpennink, President and CEO of LENZ Therapeutics. “This success is a testament to the dedication of our team, clinical partners, and the hundreds of patients who took part in our trials.”
VIZZ works by using aceclidine to gently constrict the pupil, creating a “pinhole effect” that sharpens close-up vision—similar to how a camera lens focuses. Unlike earlier eye drop treatments, this formula does not overly stimulate the eye’s focusing muscles, meaning it avoids common side effects like blurred distance vision or a myopic shift.
A Safer Alternative to Previous Treatments
The result is a safer, more comfortable option for improving near vision, without needing reading glasses or dealing with the drawbacks of older medications. The drops also avoid issues such as brow heaviness or rare eye complications sometimes seen in alternative treatments like Vuity, which acts on the ciliary muscle. VIZZ’s pupil-targeted mechanism offers a cleaner solution with fewer side effects.
“This approval represents a true shift in how we approach presbyopia,” said Dr. Marc Bloomenstein, a VIZZ clinical trial investigator at the Schwartz Laser Eye Care Center in Arizona. “It gives eye care professionals a highly effective new tool—one that many patients are likely to adopt as their go-to solution.”
The FDA’s decision followed three rigorous Phase II clinical trials involving hundreds of participants. These randomized, double-masked, controlled studies demonstrated that VIZZ was well tolerated over more than 30,000 treatment days, with no serious adverse effects reported.
The Unavoidable Reality of Presbyopia
Presbyopia is a natural consequence of aging, typically beginning after age 45. As the condition progresses, reading small print or performing close-up tasks becomes more difficult, often requiring glasses or other corrective measures. While it develops gradually, the decline can feel abrupt and frustrating for many people.
LENZ plans to widely release VIZZ in the fourth quarter of 2025. It will become the first and only FDA-approved aceclidine-based treatment for presbyopia.
“This product has been purpose-built to offer rapid results and sustained relief for the vast majority of people dealing with near-vision loss,” Schimmelpennink added. “It stands alone in its class as a pupil-selective, ciliary-sparing solution.”
It’s important to note that, although the FDA based its approval on robust clinical trial data, researchers have not yet published peer-reviewed scientific studies on VIZZ.However, it’s common in fields like ophthalmology and dermatology for such publications to follow regulatory approval rather than precede it.
Read the original article on: New Atlas
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