KUWAIT CITY, Sept 17: A new study suggests that eye drops developed for people with longsightedness (presbyopia) may offer a safe and effective alternative to reading glasses or surgery.

Presented on Sunday at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) meeting in Copenhagen, the research found that most participants using the drops twice daily were able to read additional lines on standard eye test charts. The improvements in vision were sustained for up to two years.

Presbyopia is a common condition affecting hundreds of millions worldwide, where the eyes struggle to focus on nearby objects. While traditionally treated with glasses or surgical procedures, experts say the twice-daily drops could offer a less invasive solution.

The treatment combines pilocarpine, a drug that constricts pupils and helps the eye’s lens adjust focus at varying distances, with diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that reduces inflammation.

The study, conducted in Argentina, involved 766 participants who administered the drops twice a day—once upon waking and again six hours later. The participants were divided into three groups, each receiving a different concentration of pilocarpine (1%, 2%, or 3%) with a fixed dose of diclofenac.

Among the 148 patients in the 1% pilocarpine group, nearly all were able to read two or more additional lines on the eye chart. In the 2% group (248 participants), 69% achieved three or more extra lines, while 84% of the 370 patients in the 3% group reached the same level of improvement.

Dr. Giovanna Benozzi, director of the Centre for Advanced Research for Presbyopia in Buenos Aires and lead author of the study, said the results showed “rapid and sustained improvements in near vision for all three concentrations.”

“One hour after having the first drops, patients had an average improvement of 3.45 Jaeger lines,” she said. “The treatment also improved focus at all distances.”

She added that 99% of patients in the 1% pilocarpine group achieved optimal near vision and could read at least two extra lines.

According to Benozzi, the therapy “offers a safe, effective and well-tolerated alternative to traditional presbyopia management.” Reported side-effects included temporary dim vision, irritation at the time of application, and headaches.

Experts welcomed the findings but called for further research. Prof. Burkhard Dick, president-elect of ESCRS, said broader, long-term, multi-centre studies are required to confirm the safety and effectiveness of the treatment before it can be widely recommended.