The FDA has approved the use of aceclidine drops to treat presbyopia – age-related farsightedness. Aceclidine contracts the sphincter of the pupil, which helps the eye focus on objects located directly in front of a person. The drug must be instilled into the eyes once a day, it begins to work in half an hour, and the effect lasts up to ten hours.
The drug was approved based on three clinical trials involving 1,060 people. Participants tolerated the drug well, and rare side effects included eye irritation, blurred vision, and headache, which in most cases were short-lived and went away on their own. The drug will be available to patients at the end of 2025.
