VIZZ offers once-daily, non-surgical near-vision correction.

The United States approved its first drug treatment for presbyopia, a common age-related loss of near vision. VIZZ, an aceclidine-based eye drop from LENZ Therapeutics, promises once-daily clarity without surgery or reading glasses for many adults.

Regulators cleared VIZZ for adults who want rapid near-vision improvement with targeted pupil constriction. The drop reaches effect within 30 minutes and can last up to 10 hours, offering a practical window for work and everyday tasks.

What VIZZ does and how it works

VIZZ is an aceclidine ophthalmic solution at 1.44 percent. It contracts the iris sphincter to create a small, stable pupil near 2 millimeters. The pinhole effect increases depth of focus, improving print legibility and smartphone use.

By avoiding strong ciliary muscle activation at therapeutic levels, the drop aims to sharpen near vision without triggering a myopic shift. The mechanism prioritizes pupil selectivity to balance clarity, comfort, and functional duration across the day.

Did you know?
Presbyopia typically begins around age 40 as the eye’s crystalline lens stiffens, reducing accommodation. By age 50, most adults require some form of near-vision correction for daily tasks.

Speed, durability, and safety from Phase 3

The CLARITY program included three randomized, double-masked trials with hundreds of participants. Across 30,000 treatment days, investigators reported no serious treatment-related adverse events. Most reactions were mild and self-resolving.

Benefits typically began within 30 minutes and persisted up to 10 hours. Common reactions included transient instillation site irritation, dim vision in low light, and headache. Rates were reported in the teens to low twenties as a percentage and declined over time.

How it differs from older miotics

Aceclidine is considered a pupil-selective miotic at the approved dose. It influences the ciliary muscle only at much higher concentrations than needed for miosis. This separation is designed to reduce the brow ache and myopic shift seen with pilocarpine.

For patients, the goal is similar near vision gain with fewer comfort trade-offs. For clinicians, it offers a pharmacologic option that can be titrated within a daily routine and paired with lifestyle guidance on lighting and task planning.

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Who may benefit most

Adults in early to moderate presbyopia who want freedom from readers for stretches of the day are prime candidates. Office workers, frequent travelers, and people rotating between screens and paperwork may see functional gains quickly.

Patients who drive at night should discuss timing with their clinician. A smaller pupil can reduce low light sensitivity. Counseling on dose timing relative to evening activities can help balance benefits and visual comfort.

Practical use and availability

LENZ plans to distribute through e-pharmacy channels with sample programs for clinics. A monthly 25-pack carries a consumer list price under one hundred dollars, with multi-month packs priced at a discount to support adherence.

Samples are expected in clinics as early as October, with full availability around mid-fourth quarter. Early interest will probably be highest in city clinics and eye care centers that already use treatments for presbyopia.

Market impact and clinical adoption

Presbyopia affects well over one hundred million adults in the United States. A once-daily option that fits a standard morning routine can expand access beyond surgical or device-based solutions and reduce friction for first-time users.

Clinicians will watch real-world persistence and patient-reported outcomes. Measures include reading speed, device use comfort, and evening visual quality. Satisfaction often tracks with predictable onset and a reliable late-day tail.

Safety considerations and counseling

Patients should be advised about possible dim vision, mild irritation, or headache. Evening activities that require high contrast sensitivity may feel different during peak effect. Sunglasses can help outdoors when the pupil is small.

Individuals with certain ocular conditions should seek tailored guidance. As with any prescription drop, adherence to dosing, hygiene, and follow-up maximizes benefit while minimizing discomfort and misuse.

Outlook for presbyopia therapy

Additional pharmacologic agents are being studied for extended duration and night-friendly profiles. Combination strategies that blend pupil control with accommodative support may emerge as data matures and user preferences crystallize.

For now, VIZZ marks a turning point for medical management of near vision loss. The approval opens a broader pathway for drops that complement glasses and surgery, giving patients more flexible control over their daily visual needs.