Eye drops for Presbyopia Relief? Just a decade ago this was a pipe dream. But, now we have an Indian Product PresVyu that plans to hit the markets in October. Read on to find out all about this exciting development in the sphere of non-invasive treatment options for Presbyopia.
Imagine this scene: You are finally done with your stressful workday. It’s time to enjoy the quiet evening. You relax in your favorite chair and reach for your favorite book. And as soon as you open the book, your relaxed mood is replaced by mild irritation. Why? Because the words in your favorite book are a blur!
You have to break your relaxed mood and search for your reading glasses! What a bother, right?
This is a familiar routine for many people over 40. Reading glasses become a necessary evil as you develop Presbyopia. You try to get used to switching between glasses. And, of course, squinting at the small print. It is a huge adjustment that disturbs your daily rhythm.
What if there is an alternative? What if you could ditch the glasses and go about your day stress-free?
We are talking about presbyopia-treating eye drops. If you have not heard of them before, don’t worry! We are here to help you. We will share all the info about this transformative scientific development that might soon replace reading glasses.
What’s Inside?
Understanding Presbyopia
Before we look at the eye drops for treating Presbyopia, we should understand the condition itself.
Presbyopia refers to age-related vision difficulty. As we become older, our lenses begin to lose their flexibility; they can not efficiently expand and contract to match the needs of our tasks. So, as we step into our 40s and 50s, it becomes harder for us to focus on objects that are up close.
For instance, when you try to read a book with small print, it becomes a blur. You have to constantly adjust the position of your phone to see clearly. Or when you are eating out at the restaurant, you will have to squint at the menu.
Usually, the solution to the challenge of presbyopia was reading glasses. These glasses are also commonly known as bifocals. This shift causes a lot of frustration. You need not wear glasses for all activities, such as cooking. But you have to keep the glasses on hand just in case you have to read a recipe.
But what if there is a different option? A more simple and effective solution to the challenges of presbyopia?
The Prysbyopia treating eye drops are the answer to this question.
The Science Behind Presbyopia-Treating Eye Drops
The PresbyopiaPresbyopia treating eye drops changes the dynamics of your vision to solve your reading troubles. Specifically, these eye drops work on your ‘depth focus abilities.’
These eye drops slightly constrict your pupils. This action increases your eye’s depth of focus. An increase in the depth of focus helps your eyes to see both the nearby and far away objects more clearly.
The critical ingredient of PresbyopiaPresbyopia treating eye drops is – pilocarpine. This compound helps to temporarily reduce the size of the pupil. The constricted pupil focuses the light on the retina more efficiently. So, you can enjoy clearer near vision for several hours without using reading glasses.
Timeline of Invention and Development of Eye Drops for Treating Presbyopia
As they become older, millions of people begin to develop age-related gradual loss of vision. For a long time, reading glasses or invasive LASIK surgery were the only options. However, advances in pharmaceutical sciences have given us a non-invasive option for eye drops.
Early Research on Eye Drops for Treating Presbyopia (1990s-2000s)
The first area of intervention for presbyopia treatment was pupil modulation. We have seen that squinting can temporarily improve our near vision. Similar to this principle, when we reduce the size of the pupil, it creates a pinhole effect. This act enhances the depth of vision.
The compound pilocarpine has been used for decades to treat eye pressure in glaucoma patients. Pilocarpine could constrict the pupil. So, scientists spent the 1990s and 2000s experimenting with the compound. This work on the dosage and delivery mechanism of pilocarpine had only short-term effects. It also resulted in many uncomfortable side effects. But, this early research laid the groundwork for th rapid advancements in the future.
First FDA Approval for the Eye Drops (2021)
Vuity eye drops by Allergan were the first eye drops for treating PresbyopiaPresbyopia to get the first FDA approval. Vuity’s unique formula provided PresbyopiaPresbyopia for a longer duration with minimal side effects.
This was a landmark moment in the non-invasive treatment of PresbyopiaPresbyopia or near vision. It was also very easy to use. With Just one drop in each eye per day could achieve clear vision for the next 10 to 12 hours.
Ongoing Innovations in Presbyopia Treating Eye Drops (2022-Present)
Several pharmaceutical companies accelerated their research into PresbyopiaPresbyopia treating eye drops after the first FDA approval. Currently, we have several products that are undergoing clinical trials. Soon, the eye drops for treating PresbyopiaPresbyopia will become a widespread and accessible option for all of us.
Real-Life Products on the Market for Treating Presbyopia with Eye Drops
The idea of eye drops to treat Presbyopia feels very futuristic, like from a science fiction series. But they are already here! We already have a couple of options available. We also have more products showing great promise in clinical trials. Let’s have a look at these key players now –
Vuity by Allergan
Vuity stands as the first eye drop to get FDA approval for treating Presbyopia. This eye drop uses pilocarpine to temporarily reduce the size of the pupil. This process increases your eye’s depth of focus. Its effect lasts for 6 to 10 hours. Vuity eye drops are useful for activities such as reading or using your smartphone. If you are working on a computer, vanity eye drops can be a substitute for reading glasses.
Vuity eye drops enjoy generally positive feedback from users for their convenience and effectiveness. But every medical treatment has some downsides. Vuity eye drops are not completely free of side effects. But they are usually minor and occasional. Some users have difficulties such as mild headaches, eye irritation (temporary), and difficulty in low light conditions.
Nyxol by Ocuphire Pharma
Nyxol is another eye drop option for non-invasive treatment of PresbyopiaPresbyopia. It is not yet commercially available as it is still undergoing clinical trials. However, the ophthalmology community agrees that it holds great promise.
The uniqueness of Nyxol is that it aims to address night vision issues along with PresbyopiaPresbyopia. If successful, it is set to become an all-around solution for people who deal with both near-vision and night-vision challenges.
QLOSI by Orasis Pharmaceuticals
QLOSI is another promising eye drop in the late stages of clinical trials. Orasis Pharmaceuticals is focusing on extending the effectiveness of eye drops for longer durations. It also aims to give a solution to PresbyopiaPresbyopia with fewer side effects.
The key aspect of QLOSI’s formulation is that it takes care of the potential over-constriction of the pupils. It aims to find the ideal balance between pupil size and depth of focus. Once the trial is completed, QLOSI might become the go-to option for many who need a long-term solution that is also comfortable.
PresVu Eye Drops
PresVu eye drops for PresbyopiaPresbyopia is the new kid on the block! In an exciting latest development, Entod Pharmaceuticals has received the approval of The Drugs Controller General of India. PresVu received the approval of the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) in May 2024.
This is the first Indian eye drop approved for the treatment of PresbyopiaPresbyopia. So, the significance of this moment can be compared to Vuity’s FDA approval.
Entod CEO Nikkhil K Masurkar has said that “PresVu has been designed to eliminate the need for reading glasses “among individuals aged 40 to 55 with mild to intermediate presbyopia, providing a viable alternative to traditional interventions like reading glasses.”
Early reports indicate that PresVu enhances near vision for longer periods with reduced side effects. So, PresVu claims to deliver a more comfortable experience for the users. The clinical trials of PresVu eye drops have shown promising results. The users could comfortably perform tasks such as reading, typing, and using their phones.
Considering the recent approval, PresVu eye drops are set to become a promising contender in the presbyopia treatment space. Entod expects to release PresVu eye drops in the first week of October 2024.
The Future of Presbyopia Treatment with Eye Drops
The rapid innovations in non-invasive presbyopia treatment are set to gain even more traction in the coming decade. Leading pharmaceutical companies such as Allergan, Ocuphire Pharma, and Orasis are intensively conducting clinical trials that hold great promise. Approval of a product such as PresVu also signals greater competition, which will invigorate the market.
The development of PresbyopiaPresbyopia treating eye drops also gives hope for other vision issues. Similar solutions could be on the horizon for vision challenges such as night vision issues.
Soon, pharmaceutical companies will focus on delivering formulations that have long-lasting effects without major side effects. Another aspect is affordability. Hopefully, these non-invasive solutions become widely available and affordable to millions of people with Presbyopia.
