Eye drops could replace glasses or surgery for longsightedness, study says | Health
Doctors have developed special eye drops for long -standing people who could replace the need for reading or surgery.
Hundreds of millions of people around the world have presbyopia, that is to say when eyes have trouble focusing on objects and sending sms closely. Glasses or surgery can usually solve the problem, but many find that wearing annoying glasses and having an operation is not an option for everyone.
Now experts say that the solution could be as simple as using drops for the eyes twice a day.
A study presented on Sunday at the European Cataract Society and refractive surgeons (ESCR) in Copenhagen has shown that most people could read additional lines on eye testing graphics after using the drops. The improvement was maintained for two years.
Treatment could provide a safe and effective alternative to patients who “seek freedom of drawbacks” to wear glasses or who are unable or do not want to access surgery, experts said.
The drops contain pilocarpine, a medication that tightens the students and contracts the muscle which controls the shape of the eye of the eye to allow to focus on objects at different distances; And diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory non-steroidal (NSAID) drug which reduces inflammation.
The study involved 766 people in Argentina who used the drops twice a day, upon waking up and about six hours later.
They were divided into three groups, receiving various formulations. Each of the drops had a fixed dose of Diclofenac, but the concentration of pilocarpine varied between 1%, 2%and 3%.
In the 148 given the 1%drop, almost all of them were able to read two or more additional lines on the graph. In the group at 2%, 69% of the 248 patients were able to read three or more additional lines, and in the group at 3%, 84% of the 370 patients could read three or more additional lines.
Dr. Giovanna Benozzi, director of the Center for Advanced Research for Presbyopia in Buenos Aires, said: “Our most important result has shown rapid and sustained improvements in vision close to the three concentrations.
“One hour after having the first drops, patients had an average improvement of 3.45 Jaeger lines [the measurement used for testing near visual acuity]. Treatment has also improved focus at all distances.
“Impressively, 99% of the 148 patients in the Pilocarpine group at 1% reached an optimal vision and were able to read two or more additional lines.”
The results suggest that therapy “offers a safe, efficient and well tolerated alternative to the traditional management of presbyopia,” said Benozzi.
Current side effects were a dark temporary vision, irritation when the drops were administered and headache. Experts welcomed the results and called for more research.
Professor Burkhard Dick, the elected president of the ESCR, said: “Larger and long -term studies are necessary to confirm safety and efficiency before this treatment can be widely recommended.”
