One of the scientifically proven corollaries of the increased screen time in this digital era is a spurt in vision-related issues, including presbyopia. Cases of presbyopia have more than doubled in India—from 57.7 million in 1990 to nearly 140 million in 2020—according to reports. Globally, between 1.09 billion and 1.80 billion individuals are estimated to be affected by presbyopia. Presbyopia, also referred to as near vision loss, is a condition associated with ageing where the eye's lens loses its flexibility, making it difficult to focus on close objects.
Experts believe that the impact of presbyopia is both widespread and affects domestic productivity on a large scale. Says Dr Aditya Sethi, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Arunodaya Deseret Eye Hospital, Gurugram, “Many first notice presbyopia when they start holding reading materials at arm's length to see them clearly. It can significantly impact a person’s quality of life and their ability to perform daily tasks”.
“Presbyopia has long been managed with reading glasses, contact lenses and surgical interventions,” he added.
Although it is a natural part of ageing, its increasing manifesting due to lifestyle changes especially digital eye strain, close-up work and blue light exposure necessitated an out-of-the-box and handy solution.
As the existing remedial measure are invasive, adds Nikkhil K. Masurkar, CEO of Entod Pharmaceuticals that received final approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for its innovative PresVu eye drops for presbyopia, the idea to provide people with a non-invasive option led to this idea of coming up with a first-of-its-kind eye drops for presbyopia. “We wanted to give a more accessible and affordable solution to this problem which affects millions of lives from all segments of the society and after taking advice and suggestions from ophthalmologists across the country, we decided to do something which had not been done earlier.”
Masurkar, who wants the US-centric pharmaceutical industry in India to be more indigenously inclined, adds, “PresVu is the result of years of dedicated research and development. The DCGI approval is a major step forward in our mission to transform eye care in India. We take pride in our commitment to innovation.”
Dhananjay Bakhle, scientific advisor, Entod pharmaceuticals, says, “For patients with presbyopia, this eye drop offers a non-invasive option that can enhance near vision without the need for reading glasses. Its rapid efficacy and safety profile, demonstrated in clinical trials, makes it a valuable addition to the treatment arsenal.”
