Health Watch (Eye Drops)
Eye Drops Versus Reading Glasses Debate
Mumbai-based pharma company ENTOD Pharmaceuticals’ recent claim to replace reading glasses for those suffering the common age-related vision condition of presbyopia at 40 or above with its PresVu eye drop broached a sensitive topic revolving around vision. Earlier, the country’s apex drug regulatory agency DCGI (Drug Controller General of India) had approved the medicine on Sep 4 but the same was stayed by CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) on Sep 10 citing unauthorised promotions that raised the alarm about the product's safety and misuse. The medical community was quick to react to this development.
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| Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons |
In light of the above-mentioned controversy,
eye specialist Dr. Abha Gahlot states: “Concerns over the effectiveness and
safety of eye drops claiming to replace a pair of reading glasses for patients
detected with presbyopia are brought up by the debate surrounding ENTOD
Pharmaceuticals' PresVu eye drop that makes such a claim.”
Delving deeper into the issue, ophthalmologist Dr. Lalit Singhal responds to the vital query whether eye drops can permanently solve problems of both presbyopia and dry eyes even if they help lubricate the eyes.
“Honestly speaking, it’s difficult for an eye drop to address and mitigate all complications related to presbyopia. However, when it comes to dry eyes, it is a totally different disease wherein eye drops play a crucial role and have already proved its effectiveness in various pharma studies or clinical trials,” informs the eye surgeon (Phaco and Refractive) at Sai Eye Care and Medical Centre.
“While eye drops can definitely be used to treat presbyopia as well as dry eyes but these two conditions are quite different from each other and need eye drops of different compositions for their treatment. Further research on combo eye drops to treat both the disorders at the same time can be warranted in the future,” elucidates Dr. Gahlot, who’s also the senior consultant at the ophthalmology department of Sharda Hospital.
For the unversed, eye drops for treating dry eyes contain formulations that act as lubricants for the eye. A commonly used eye drop has CMC (carboxy methyl cellulose), which acts as a lubricant due to its high viscosity and hydrophilic nature.
Dr. Gahlot further reports that “the FDA-sanctioned eye drop Vuity works in temporarily improving close vision by narrowing the pupil.”
Admitting that ageing can also cause dry eyes, eye expert Dr. Holmes Naorem concurs that “dry eyes need a lubricating eye drop, such as carboxy methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, sodium hyaluronate, etc. In a nutshell, eye drops can aid both presbyopia and dry eyes only to a certain limit and their compositions required in the two distinct cases vary entirely. There could be in-depth studies and experiments ahead to find a single eye drop solution to ease the intensity of multiple issues.”
As an ophthalmologist, Dr. Gahlot conveys that “the prescription for presbyopia-correcting eye drops confirms Vuity as a pilocarpine HCl ophthalmic solution (1.25%) but this would be wholly based on individual needs and circumstances of each patient.”
For the uninitiated, Vuity is the only FDA-approved eye drop made especially for treating presbyopia and it provides a non-invasive substitute for reading glasses. It can give patients a momentary near vision relief that lasts up to six hours and takes effect in as little as 15 minutes, allowing them to read and use digital gadgets without constantly needing to wear glasses.
“However, there’s a catch. It's important to remember that not everyone can benefit from Vuity, especially if they have severe cataracts or advanced presbyopia as these conditions tend to reduce the device's effectiveness,” reminds Dr. Gahlot.
Agreeing that he won’t recommend eye drops just to everybody, Dr. Naorem imparts that “the use of reading glasses is a time-honoured solution for presbyopia but a few people are averse to the idea of putting on glasses and prefer to use other modalities, such as eye drops, possibly in manageable scenarios, provided the patient is able to tolerate the eye drop well with none to minimum side-effects. Also, if the patient complains of dry eyes, a lubricating drop can be added in the regimen to solve the problem.”
Spurious drugs flooding the market by far indicate the presence of a corruption racket and an unholy nexus in the health sector. Plus, over-the-counter sale of drugs in medicine stores without prescriptions is a huge cause for worry in the medical fraternity. Should the patient party or consumers be more wary while purchasing drugs? Industry watchers suggest that they must educate themselves in terms of building awareness. Should then they be more cautious about the drug’s expiry date and false claims made by the manufacturers?
Patients and consumers must adopt a more conservative approach based on informed decisions when buying medicines, given the alarming rate at which spurious medicines go unchecked through over-the-counter sales, observes the medical practitioners.
“First and foremost, a consumer should always verify the drug's termination date and scrutinise any claims made by the manufacturers, especially those that sound too good to be true. It's essential to purchase medications only from trusted and licensed pharmacies and resort to proper prescriptions for medicines, even if over-the-counter availability seems convenient,” volunteers Dr. Gahlot.
It is always advisable for consumers to consult healthcare professionals before taking any new medication and read reliable information obtained from the government health bodies or what is being regularly posted on their trusted medical websites.
“Familiarising themselves with regulatory certifications like those provided by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) can also help consumers differentiate between authentic and potentially unsafe drugs. Staying updated and vigilant is key to safeguard one's health on an increasingly commercialised pharmaceutical landscape,” concedes the medic.
Spurious and misbranded drugs invading the market at a rampant pace is a grievous menace.
“The main problem stems up from the patients’ habit of going to the pharmacies directly instead of visiting a learned doctor first to get their ailment properly assessed and correct medications prescribed for the same,” argues Dr. Naorem. “It has always been my earnest request to all patients, patient parties and relatives to undergo a thorough diagnosis by a well-trained, registered practising medical specialist prior to opting for any kind of medication and treatment procedures,” he pleads further.
Additionally, he apprises that “drug formulations included in eye drops like any other manufactured product have an expiry date beyond which the efficacy is compromised and can even turn harmful in worst cases.”
Various medical camps and awareness programmes are held with the sole purpose of educating the masses about medical safety. “In light of this, I’d frankly ask everyone to blatantly avoid purchasing drugs over the counter,” he makes a downright appeal.
The regulatory agencies can play a crucial role in inspecting the clinical trials and making the process of drug approvals more transparent, observe eye care specialists. “For that we need an unbiased system,” insists Dr. Singhal.
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) ought to be more stringent in its efforts to bring health corruption under the scanner and take disciplinary action against the wrongdoers if found guilty. “This is possible by enrolling more and more healthcare providers in trials and studies,” he offers.
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