Tired of Reading Glasses? Eye Drop Submitted for FDA Approval May Help You Read Without Them

AbbVie's Allergan Eye Care division has submitted an investigational eye drug for FDA approval that could potentially help more than 128 million Americans read without glasses, reports USA Today . The drug is a pilocarpine eye drop solution, named AGN-190584, that is expected to be approved by the end of this year. The drugs make eye pupils smaller, creating a pinhole effect that increases their depth of focus. The new drug application is based on two randomized trials comprising 750 individuals aged 40-55 years in which patients were treated either with the drug or placebo once a day for 30 days. The studies found that the eye drops were safe and effective, with participants gaining three additional lines on the reading chart in low light compared with those who received placebo. The eye drops began working as soon as 15 minutes after application but reached peak effectiveness after roughly 1 hour. Adverse effects occurred in fewer than 5 percent of patients, including headache and blurred vision.