Scientists have developed eye drops that could provide an easy, non-invasive treatment for long-sightedness, or presbyopia – a disorder that affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide to have difficulty seeing objects up close.
Previously treated with reading glasses or surgery, presbyopia can now potentially be cured by applying eye drops twice daily.
In a study delivered at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) in Copenhagen, researchers reported that patients taking the drops saw substantial improvement in near vision. The effects persisted for up to two years.
The drops are a mixture of pilocarpine, which causes the pupil to constrict and enables the eye to focus better, and diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory.
The study, involving 766 patients in Argentina, tested three concentrations of pilocarpine (1%, 2%, and 3%). Almost all of the patients receiving the 1% drops read two or more lines of vision on an eye chart, while 84% of the 3% group read three or more.
Dr. Giovanna Benozzi, who oversaw the study, said that within an hour, improvements were evident. “The treatment also enhanced focus at all distances,” she added. Side effects were brief dimming vision, slight irritation, and headaches.
The findings were viewed with relief by experts but they emphasized that long-term studies need to be conducted before the drops can be widely endorsed.
