Reading Without Glasses Is Finally Possible With Just One Drop Using This FDA Approved Eye Dop

VIZZ: The FDA-Approved Eye Drop That Might Replace Reading Glasses for Presbyopia

When we turn 40, we often begin to notice that small print requires us to hold reading material farther away. This is presbyopia — the inevitable loss of near-vision focus that comes with aging. Traditionally, patients adapt with reading glasses, bifocals, or surgical options. But now, a new pharmaceutical solution is arriving: VIZZ, an eye drop approved by the U.S. FDA in 2025, offering up to 10 hours of clearer near vision from a single daily dose.

This is more than just a new drop — it could represent a paradigm shift in how we manage age-related blurry near vision. Here's what clinicians and healthcare professionals should know about VIZZ: how it works, what the clinical data show, caveats and safety, where it fits into the treatment landscape, and future prospects.

What’s new: FDA approval and the unmet need
VIZZ (aceclidine ophthalmic solution, 1.44%) is the first aceclidine-based eye drop approved for presbyopia in adults. It was granted FDA approval in July 2025, becoming the first U.S. drug to use this mechanism for near vision correction. In clinical trials, VIZZ showed efficacy within 30 minutes of application and maintained improved near vision for up to 10 hours.
(From LENZ Therapeutics press materials)

This approval meets a substantial unmet need. Presbyopia affects nearly all people over age 45—loss of lens flexibility reduces the ability to focus on nearby objects. Reading glasses or multifocal lenses are the go-to options, but many patients dislike their inconvenience, aesthetics, or dependence on external devices.

For decades, the field has explored pharmacologic alternatives. The only other FDA-approved presbyopia eye drop before VIZZ was pilocarpine-based therapy, which constricts pupils to improve depth of focus but can cause side effects like dim vision or headaches. The arrival of aceclidine provides a different option. (As noted in ophthalmology commentary)

Mechanism of action: how VIZZ sharpens near vision
Pupil-selective miotic effect (pinhole principle)
VIZZ works primarily by constricting the pupil, creating a “pinhole effect” which increases depth of focus — making near objects clearer without greatly disturbing distance vision. The drop causes the iris sphincter muscle to contract, reducing pupil size to under 2 mm in many patients. Because the pupil is small, rays of light entering the eye are more collimated, reducing aberrations and improving clarity for near targets.

What distinguishes VIZZ is that it is largely pupil-selective and causes minimal stimulation of the ciliary muscle. Many cholinergic drugs also activate ciliary contraction, which can induce unwanted shifts (for example, a myopic shift). By sparing the ciliary pathway, VIZZ aims to provide near vision gains with fewer accommodative side effects.
(Ophthalmology Times commentary on mechanism)

Duration of effect
In trials, a single instillation acted within 30 minutes and lasted for near-vision benefits up to 10 hours in many subjects. That extended duration sets VIZZ apart from some earlier drops, which required multiple applications per day.
(LENZ press release; ophthalmology reporting)

Clinical trials and efficacy data
VIZZ’s approval rests on a clinical program known as CLARITY, which comprised three pivotal trials: CLARITY-1, CLARITY-2, and CLARITY-3.

• CLARITY-1 and CLARITY-2 were randomized, double-masked, controlled trials enrolling a combined 466 participants who applied VIZZ once daily for 42 days. These trials assessed near visual acuity improvement and safety.
  
  
• CLARITY-3 extended safety assessment over 6 months in 217 participants.
  

In CLARITY-1 and 2, VIZZ met all primary and secondary endpoints: a statistically significant fraction of participants achieved at least a 3-line improvement in binocular near vision without losing more than 1 line of distance vision. The onset of effect was typically within 30 minutes.
(LENZ press materials)

Safety data across these trials (over ~30,000 treatment days) showed no serious treatment-related adverse events. Common side effects included instillation site irritation, transient dim vision, and headache — mostly mild and self-limiting.
(FDA label summary)

Thus far, the safety profile is encouraging. The drop is preservative-free and delivered in single-dose vials to reduce contamination risks. In trials, about 20% of participants reported mild irritation, 16% experienced dimming of vision, and 13% reported headaches.
(FDA prescribing information)

VIZZ is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to aceclidine or components of the formulation. Contact lenses should be removed before instilling the drop and may be reinserted 10 minutes afterward.
(FDA prescribing information)

What VIZZ means for patients and clinicians
Advantages and patient appeal

• Non-invasive and no surgery required. Once-daily drops represent a less intrusive alternative to surgical or lens-based interventions.
  
  
• Flexibility. Patients can use the drop on days when near work is heavy (reading, digital tasks) and perhaps forego it when not needed.
  
  
• Aesthetic and convenience gains. For many, removing the dependence on reading glasses is psychologically and functionally appealing.
  

Limitations and caveats

• Not a full substitute for spectacle correction in all patients. In individuals with high near-power demands, the drop’s effect may be insufficient.
  
  
• Dim vision and low-light challenge. Because the mechanism relies on pupil constriction, users may experience poorer performance in low-light settings or night driving.
  
  
• Performance variability. Some individuals may not achieve full benefit; patient selection will matter.
  
  
• Cost, availability, and insurance coverage. As a novel therapy, price, reimbursement, and out-of-pocket cost may limit uptake initially.
  
  
• Long-term safety unknown. Clinical trials so far span months; effects of years of daily use need monitoring.
  
  
• Contraindications and ocular comorbidities. Patients with narrow angles, glaucoma, or lens opacities may require careful evaluation before use.
  

Position within treatment spectrum
VIZZ is complementary to existing therapeutic modalities rather than supplanting them. For patients with mild-to-moderate presbyopia, it may reduce or delay need for reading glasses or surgical interventions. In those already using multifocal lenses or presbyopia-correcting intraocular lenses, it may augment near vision on demand.

This drop is also part of a competitive and rapidly evolving class of pharmacologic presbyopia therapies. Other drops (mostly pilocarpine-based) already exist, and more combinations are in development (e.g., combination miotics plus agents to prolong effect).
(Ophthalmology Times commentary: “Emerging era of presbyopia-correcting eye drops”)

One especially interesting comparison: the VIZZ mechanism acts on iris constriction more selectively, whereas many earlier drops rely more heavily on ciliary muscle stimulation, which may risk inducing accommodative strain or affect distance vision. VIZZ’s more targeted mode may lead to improved tolerability and fewer side effects.

Practical considerations and guidance for clinicians
Patient screening and suitability
Before prescribing VIZZ, clinicians should evaluate:

• Anterior chamber depth and angle: narrow-angle glaucoma may risk complications with miotic agents.
  
  
• Baseline pupil size and light demand: patients who frequently function in dim light may struggle.
  
  
• Lens status: those with cataracts or existing intraocular lenses require tailored expectations.
  
  
• Ocular surface health: any surface disease (dry eye, epithelial compromise) may amplify irritation risk.
  

Dosing and administration

• VIZZ is applied once daily in single-dose vials.
  
  
• Results occur within 30 minutes.
  
  
• Effects may last up to 10 hours, but individual response varies.
  
  
• Instruct patients to remove contact lenses before instillation and wait ~10 minutes before reinserting them.
  
  
• Educate patients about transient side effects (dimming, mild headache, irritation) and caution in low-light activities.
  

Monitoring and follow-up

• Assess near and distance visual acuities, subjective satisfaction, and tolerance.
  
  
• Monitor for chronic irritation, corneal surface changes, or lens/retinal complications during long-term use.
  
  
• Check for shift in refraction or posterior segment stress (rare in miotic therapies).
  
  
• Inquire about night vision difficulties or complaints of glare/dark adaptation impairment.
  

Handling side effects

• Most side effects are mild and resolve spontaneously.
  
  
• For persistent irritation or discomfort, temporary discontinuation is an option.
  
  
• Patients experiencing dim or blurred vision under certain conditions should avoid hazardous activities until adaptation occurs.
  

What lies ahead: future and innovation in presbyopia drugs
VIZZ arrives in a dynamic landscape. Several new presbyopia drops and combination agents are in development. Among these:

• Fixed combinations (e.g., carbachol + brimonidine) under regulatory review may offer complementary or extended effects.
  
  
• Agents aiming to reduce accommodative burden or stretch the duration of effect.
  
  
• Novel delivery systems (sustained-release inserts, nanoformulations) to minimize dosing frequency.
  
  
• Comparative trials between VIZZ and existing drops to clarify best use cases and patient subgroups.
  

Researchers and clinicians will be watching how VIZZ performs in real-world settings — outside the controlled environment of trials — for adherence, safety over years, and patient satisfaction. There’s potential for VIZZ to become a widely used standard for early-to-moderate presbyopia, especially in patients reluctant to use glasses or undergo surgery.