Health

Managing Blurry Near Vision As You Age

(Family Features) If you find yourself using a brighter light to read, holding your favorite book at arm’s length, or squinting to see up close, you are not alone. Approximately 128 million people in the United States have presbyopia, or age-related blurry near vision, a common and progressive eye condition affecting most people over 40.1,2

As you hit middle age, the lenses of your eyes become less flexible, and you may find it more difficult to see up close.3 Presbyopia can be diagnosed through a basic eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.4

Toni Wright is one of the many people who experiences age-related blurry near vision. “As I’ve gotten older, my vision has changed, and it has become almost impossible to see clearly up close unless I wear my readers. After speaking with my doctor, I learned that I have presbyopia. Realizing that I needed to start using readers showed me how important it was to address this condition.”

Until now, some of the options to manage presbyopia have been reading glasses, contact lenses or surgery. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first and only prescription eye drop to treat presbyopia, or age-related blurry near vision, in adults. The once-daily prescription eye drop called VUITY™ (pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution) 1.25%, improves near and intermediate vision without impacting distance vision. Do not use VUITY if you are allergic to any of the ingredients. See additional Important Safety Information below.

As you age, it’s important to care for your eye health. The following are some easy steps you can take:

  • Visit your eye doctor regularly. Eye exams can help uncover age-related eye conditions like presbyopia.5 It’s a normal part of getting older and important to spot early on.
  • Give your eyes a rest. It’s easy to get lost in reading or work when you’re looking at screens all day. Setting a timed reminder can help give your eyes a break every 20 minutes. To reduce eye strain, try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds.6
  • Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Your diet should include a variety of proteins, dairy, fruits, and vegetables. Eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and sardines can also help your eyes.7
  • Protect your eyes from the sun. Wear quality sunglasses that offer good UV protection to protect your eyes from harmful solar radiation.8 Don’t just save them for the summer months – it’s important to wear them even on cloudy days and during winter months.

Scheduling an appointment with an eye care professional is the first step, and if you’re experiencing age-related blurry near vision, talk to your eye care professional to see if VUITY is right for you. Visit VUITY.com to learn more.

This release is sponsored by Allergan, an AbbVie company.   

US-VUI-210084 11/21

 

VUITY Use and Important Safety Information
USE
VUITY™ (pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution) 1.25% is aprescription eye drop used to treat age-related blurry near vision (presbyopia) in adults.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

  • Do not use VUITY if you are allergic to any of the ingredients.
  • Use caution when driving at night or performing hazardous activities in poor lighting.
  • Temporary problems when changing focus between near and distant objects may occur. Do not drive or use machinery if vision is not clear.
  • Seek immediate medical care if you experience any sudden vision loss.
  • If you wear contact lenses, they should be removed prior to VUITY use. Wait 10 minutes after dosing before reinserting contact lenses.
  • Do not touch the dropper tip to any surface as this may contaminate the contents. 
  • If more than one topical eye medication is being used, the medicines must be administered at least 5 minutes apart.
  • The most common side effects are headache and eye redness. These are not all the possible side effects of VUITY.

Please see full Prescribing Information at VUITY.com or call 1-833-MY-VUITY.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

References:

  1. Zebardast N, Friedman DS, Vitale S. The prevalence and demographic associations of presenting near-vision impairment among adults living in the United States. Am J Opthalmol. 2017;174: 134–144.  
  2. Mayo Clinic. Presbyopia Symptoms & causes. mayoclinic.org. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/presbyopia/symptoms-causes/syc-20363328. Accessed November 2021.  
  3. American Optometric Association. Adult Vision: 41 to 60 Years of Age. aoa.org. https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-health-for-life/adult-vision-41-to-60-years-of-age?sso=y. Accessed November 2021. 
  4. American Optometric Association. Healthy Eyes. Eye and Vision Conditions. Presbyopia. https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/presbyopia?sso=y. Accessed November 2021. 
  5. American Optometric Association. Adult Vision: 41 to 60 Years of Age. aoa.org. https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-health-for-life/adult-vision-41-to-60-years-of-age?sso=y. Accessed November 2021. 
  6. Kiersten Boyd. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Computers, Digital Devices and Eye Strain. aao.org. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/computer-usage. Accessed November 2021. 
  7. Harvard Medical School. Top foods to help protect your vision. health.harvard.edu. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/top-foods-to-help-protect-your-vision. Accessed November 2021. 
  8. American Optometric Association. Ultraviolet (UV) protection. Aor.org. https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/caring-for-your-eyes/uv-protection?sso=y. Accessed November 2021.

 

SOURCE:
Allergan, an AbbVie Company

Debunking Common Misconceptions About Gout

(Family Features) When many people think of gout, they often picture swelling and pain in the big toe. However, gout – an extremely painful form of inflammatory arthritis – can occur in any joint when high levels of uric acid in the blood lead to the formation of urate crystals.

If your body creates too much uric acid or cannot clear uric acid properly, you may experience sudden and sometimes severe gout attacks, called flare-ups, that include pain, swelling or redness in your joints. The condition can disrupt many aspects of daily living, including work and leisure or family activities.

“I was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2009 and it wasn’t too long after that I started dealing with gout issues,” said registered nurse Theresa Caldron. “Gout affects your quality of life in a lot of different ways. You’re going through days of pain and no one knows it because you don’t look sick.”

Because the kidneys filter and release uric acid, people with kidney disease are more likely to experience a buildup of urate crystals and, therefore, gout. In fact, 1 out of 10 people with chronic kidney disease have gout, and an even higher percentage of people with gout have kidney disease.

To help debunk some myths around the condition, the American Kidney Fund, in partnership with Horizon Therapeutics, created the “Goutful” education campaign, which aims to educate and empower patients with gout to help them live easier and prevent further health complications, especially relating to their kidneys. Consider these common myths:

Myth: Gout is rare.
Gout is a relatively common condition. More than 8 million Americans have gout, and it is the most common form of arthritis in men over 40.

Myth: Gout is a man’s disease.
Anyone can get gout, but it’s more common in men than women. Though men are 10 times more likely to develop gout, rates of gout even out after age 60 since gout tends to develop for women after menopause.

Myth: Only people who are obese get gout.
People of all sizes can develop gout. Though people who are obese are at higher risk, gout is more common in people who have other health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or kidney disease. Others more at-risk for gout are males 30-50 years old, Asians, Pacific Islanders, Black people, people with a family history of gout, people with organ transplants and people exposed to lead.

Myth: Gout eventually goes away on its own.
Symptoms of gout attacks often go away within a few days, but that doesn’t mean gout is gone. Even if you don’t feel symptoms, urate crystals can build up beneath the surface, which can cause long-term health problems like joint and kidney damage.

Myth: There are things you can eat to prevent or cure gout.
Certain foods may help decrease the level of uric acid in your body, but diet alone is not a cure for gout. People with gout who follow healthy diets may still need medicine to prevent flare-ups and lower uric acid levels. Alcohol and foods rich in purines, especially red meat and seafood, should be avoided if you are prone to gout.

If you think you might have gout, talk with your doctor or a gout specialist about your symptoms. Visit kidneyfund.org/gout to learn more about gout and kidney disease.

 

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

 

SOURCE:
American Kidney Fund