The new eye drops that replace your reading glasses.
First of all, these drops only replace reading glasses that are used by people after the age of 40 to focus on near objects, like your phone or reading a newspaper or a book. These drops do not replace spectacles used to focus on distant objects, which are for plus or minus powers.
When you turn 40, you lose the elasticity of your eye lens, and therefore, you need reading glasses. As you get older, this reading power also increases.
Enter: low-dose pilocarpine drops. Pilocarpine itself has been used to treat glaucoma for over 200 years, so this is not a new compound. However, what is new about these drops is that they are now available in a lower dose—specifically 1% or 1.25%—which is designed to help eliminate the need for reading glasses.
These drops are effective for people between the ages of 40 and 55, and only for those who have a pure reading number. They will not work for individuals with high minus or plus powers. Pilocarpine works by constricting the pupil inside the eye, which creates a pinhole effect. If you take a piece of cardboard, pierce a pinhole in it, and look through it, you’ll notice everything appears clearer. That’s exactly how this drop works.
It is recommended to use the drops once or twice a day. The effect of the drops lasts between four to eight hours and comes with certain side effects.
The most common side effects include headaches, blurred vision, redness, and eye irritation. Uncommon side effects include inflammation or iritis inside the eye, and the most serious side effect is retinal pulling, which could lead to retinal detachment.
If you do opt for these drops, it is essential that you undergo a thorough peripheral retinal check first. Once you’re cleared to use them, you can consider incorporating them into your routine.
All scientific data and FDA trials show that there has been an improvement of three or more lines of reading with these drops.
So, if you’re interested in using low-dose pilocarpine drops to get rid of your reading glasses, ensure you get screened first. Feel free to drop any questions you have below!
Have questions or concerns about eye health?
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Visit to us: Moolani’s Eye Care Centre
103, Pundol Apartment, 160 MG Road, Pune – 411001
Dr. Samita Moolani Katara
MBBS, DO, DNB, FACS
Consulting Ophthalmologist