From lifting droopy eyelids to sharpening near vision, the next generation of ocular products are game changers for those with common eye conditions.
Save Your Tears
More than 16 million Americans suffer from dry eye disease (DED), which can cause everything from mild discomfort like redness and itchiness to more serious conditions like blurred vision. Unlike over-the-counter drops, Tyrvaya, the first and only prescription nasal spray for dry eyes, hydrates eyes from the inside out. The spray’s formula is believed to activate nerves in the nose, stimulating natural production of tear film, the three layers of ocular fluid that hydrate eyes and protect them from outside irritants. Recommended for twice-daily use, Tyrvaya is preservative-free, lasts for up to 12 hours at a time and increases the body’s natural tears over time—no more stinging eyes or smudged makeup from conventional drops.
Bright Eyes
Put down the white eyeliner and volumizing mascara and pick up Upneeq, a new prescription eyedrop that temporarily lifts droopy eyelids caused by acquired ptosis, or detachment of the eyelid muscle. Most common in those over 40, the condition also affects younger people suffering from excessive eye strain—think too many days on Zoom calls and evenings scrolling TikTok. The FDA-approved, noninvasive daily-use drops contain a small concentration of oxymetazoline hydrochloride—most commonly used in nasal decongestants—which stimulates receptors on the eyelid muscles, causing contractions that raise the upper eyelid from 1 to 3 millimeters. The result? A nonsurgical eye-lift for brighter, wider eyes in as little as five minutes and lasting up to eight hours.
In Focus
Tired of fumbling for reading glasses every time you open a book or scan a menu in a dimly lit restaurant? Swap those ugly drugstore readers for Vuity, the only FDA-approved eyedrop to treat presbyopia, or age-related blurry vision, a common and progressive eye condition that affects 90% of American adults over the age of 45. Containing pilocarpine, the same medication used to treat glaucoma, Vuity works by shrinking the pupil size and reducing peripheral light that passes into the eye. The pinhole-like effect mimics the eye’s natural ability to focus, sharpening objects at close range. After 30 days, clinical trial users reported improved near vision of up to three lines or more on an eye chart—critical for everyday tasks like preparing a pitch deck for that important work meeting or reading a bedtime story to little ones, no cheaters needed.