Starting from the first week of October, new prescription eye drops will be available in pharmacies across India for Rs 350. These drops are designed to treat mild to intermediate presbyopia, a common vision problem in people aged 40 to 55 years.
After a thorough review that took more than two years, India’s drug regulatory agency has finally approved the country’s first eye drops aimed at reducing the need for reading glasses. On Tuesday, Entod Pharmaceuticals, a company based in Mumbai, launched “PresVu” eye drops. The key ingredient in these drops is pilocarpine, which helps improve near vision by reducing the size of the pupils.
Presbyopia, a condition that affects most people as they get older, makes it hard to focus on objects up close. This issue usually begins in the mid-40s and worsens until around the late 60s.
In an interview with News18, Nikkhil K Masurkar, the CEO of Entod Pharmaceuticals, explained that a single drop of PresVu starts working in just 15 minutes, and its effects last for about six hours. For extended relief, a second drop can be applied three to six hours after the first, prolonging the effect.
Before now, the only way to correct blurry near vision was through reading glasses, contact lenses, or surgery. These new eye drops provide a medicine-based alternative.
Entod Pharmaceuticals specializes in eye care, ear-nose-throat (ENT), and dermatology treatments, and their products are sold in more than 60 countries. PresVu, however, will be available only with a prescription from a certified medical professional. The company is currently training its sales teams to educate doctors about how the eye drops work and how patients should use them.
Successful Trials and What Comes Next
Masurkar shared that the company had applied for approval from India’s Drug Controller General (DCGI) in early 2022 and was asked to conduct Phase III clinical trials. These trials were held at 10 locations across India, with over 250 participants. The results showed that 82% of the 274 participants had no side effects, while the remaining 18% experienced mild and temporary effects such as eye irritation, redness, blurred vision, and headaches. These side effects disappeared after a few days as the patients’ eyes adjusted to the treatment. No participants were removed from the study due to side effects.
Though the results have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, the company plans to conduct post-launch studies at major eye care centers across India, including AIIMS in New Delhi. Masurkar emphasized that they aim to gather further insights through post-marketing surveillance, and they will also publish the study results in medical journals.
Who Can Use These Eye Drops?
Starting in October, these eye drops will be available in pharmacies for Rs 350, but only with a prescription. They are intended for people aged 40 to 55 years who have mild to moderate presbyopia.
Masurkar also pointed out that this is the first product of its kind developed specifically for the Indian population. Although similar eye drops are available in other countries, those formulations have not been tested on Indian eyes, which differ from Caucasian eyes. Entod Pharmaceuticals made several adjustments to the formula to ensure it’s well-suited to the genetic makeup of the Indian population.
This breakthrough treatment is expected to be a game-changer for people in India dealing with presbyopia, providing a more convenient alternative to glasses or surgery.
A Game-Changer for Eye Care in India
The introduction of PresVu eye drops marks a significant step forward in the field of eye care in India. For years, individuals with presbyopia had limited options, relying mostly on reading glasses, contact lenses, or surgical procedures to correct their near vision. PresVu offers a hassle-free, non-invasive solution that could dramatically improve the quality of life for millions of people.
This innovation also highlights the growing focus on developing healthcare solutions specifically for the Indian population. With formulations designed to meet the unique needs of Indian eyes, PresVu sets a new standard for how eye care products are tailored to different genetic backgrounds.
As more people in India face vision issues due to presbyopia, having a cost-effective and easy-to-use treatment like PresVu will provide an accessible option to those who may not want to rely on glasses or undergo surgery. Its availability across pharmacies at an affordable price ensures that it won’t just be limited to major urban centers but will also be accessible to those in smaller towns and cities.
In the coming years, PresVu could become the go-to solution for presbyopia, setting the stage for further innovations in eye care across India.
