Context: 

Mumbai-based Entod Pharmaceuticals announced that the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), the nation’s top drug regulatory authority, has approved its innovative eye drops designed specifically to reduce the need for reading glasses in individuals with presbyopia.

Background: 

According to the company, the eye drop PresVu is the first of its kind in India, and Entod has applied for a patent for this invention in terms of its formulation and the process.

Key takeaways:

1. Presbyopia is an age-related disorder in which the eyes gradually lose their capacity to concentrate on adjacent objects.
2. Cause: Presbyopia occurs due to the gradual stiffening of the lens inside the eye. The lens becomes less flexible, reducing its ability to change shape and focus light on the retina for close-up tasks.
3. This condition typically becomes noticeable in individuals around the age of 40 and continues to progress with age. Doctors believe that spectacles are one of the most efficient strategies to manage the illness.

About PresVu:

1. The active ingredient — chemical compounds in medicines that have an effect on the body — in PresVu is pilocarpine.
2. The compound contracts the iris muscles, which control the size of the pupil and help humans see things clearly, thereby enabling one’s eyes to focus better on nearby objects, according to Entod Pharmaceuticals.
3. PresVu also claims to employ “advanced dynamic buffer technology” — effectively, a base solution — to adapt to the pH level of tears. This guarantees that the eye drop has consistent efficacy and safety for extended use, keeping in mind that such drops will be used for years at a stretch.
4. PresVu is a prescription-only medication, and experts say its effects are unlikely to endure more than four to six hours.

Additional Information:

Although Entod’s claims suggest that PresVu is a new therapy, pilocarpine, the key ingredient in the eye drop, has been available in India for decades. In 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a pilocarpine eye drop to treat presbyopia.