From Fox News: As people age, many develop presbyopia — age-related farsightedness that makes it hard to read things at close range — and may turn to reading glasses. But new research suggests another option may be on the horizon.
Scientists have found that specially formulated eye drops could restore close-up vision for many patients, offering a non-surgical, non-glasses approach to age-related vision loss.
The study, presented on Sept. 14 at the 43rd Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons in Denmark, followed 766 patients, most in their mid-50s, who were experiencing the classic symptoms of presbyopia.
Instead of glasses, researchers prescribed drops containing pilocarpine, a drug that helps the eye adjust its focus, along with diclofenac, a mild anti-inflammatory designed to make the treatment more comfortable.
Participants in the study were a group of patients, 373 women and 393 men, with an average age of 55. They were instructed to administer the drops in their eyes twice a day, first when waking up in the morning, and again about 6 hours later. Participants were divided into three groups, each receiving a fixed dose of diclofenac, but concentrations of pilocarpine were 1%, 2% and 3%.
Within an hour after applying the first dose, patients were able to read more lines on the near-vision chart, and their focus for all distances also improved.
Science Daily quoted Dr Giovanna Benozzi, director of the Center for Advanced Research for Presbyopia, in Buenos Aires, Argentina:
“Impressively, 99% of 148 patients in the 1% pilocarpine group reached optimal near vision and were able to read two or more extra lines. Approximately 83% of all patients maintained good functional near vision at 12 months. Importantly, no significant adverse events like increased intraocular pressure or retinal detachment were observed.”
In the 2% group, 69% of 248 patients were able to read three or more extra lines on the Jaeger chart, and in the 3% group, 84% of 370 patients could read three or more extra lines.
The improvement in the patients’ vision was sustained for up to two years, with a median duration of 434 days. Adverse side effects were mild, with the most common being temporary dim vision, which occurred in 32% of cases, irritation when the drops were instilled (3.7%) and headache (3.8%). No patients discontinued the treatment.
Dr Benozzi also said, “These results suggest this combination therapy offers a safe, effective, and well-tolerated alternative to traditional presbyopia management. It significantly reduces dependence on reading glasses, providing a convenient, non-invasive option for patients, although these eye drops may not eliminate the need for glasses in all individuals.
“Importantly, this treatment is not intended to replace surgical interventions, but rather to serve as a valuable solution for patients who need safe, effective, and personalised alternatives and seek freedom from the inconvenience of eyewear. Eye care professionals now have an evidence-based pharmacological option that expands the spectrum of presbyopia care beyond glasses and surgery,” she added.
However, ESCRS President-Elect, Professor Burkhard Dick, chair of the ophthalmology department at the University Eye Hospital Bochum, Germany, who was not involved in the research, warned, “Broader, long-term, multi-centre studies are needed to confirm safety and effectiveness before this treatment can be widely recommended.”
Eye drops combining pilocarpine and diclofenac helped patients read extra lines on vision charts, with effects lasting up to two years. The treatment could revolutionize presbyopia care as a safe, non-surgical alternative to glasses.https://t.co/Ce4M5N7Vnh
— Michael W. Deem (@Michael_W_Deem) September 15, 2025
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