For generations, middle-aged and older adults have reached for reading glasses as soon as menus, newspapers, or text messages started to blur. But a new study presented in Copenhagen suggests that in the not-so-distant future, people might be reaching for an eyedropper instead.

Researchers unveiled promising results at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), showing that special medicated eye drops—used two to three times a day—could significantly improve near vision and even reduce the reliance on reading glasses.

The drops, tested on more than 760 patients in Argentina, helped most users read two or more extra lines on a standard eye chart, with improvements lasting up to two years. “Nearly all patients experienced positive improvements in near visual acuity, although the magnitude of the improvement depended on the status of their vision before treatment,” said lead researcher Dr. Giovanna Benozzi, director of the Center for Advanced Research in Presbyopia in Buenos Aires.

Presbyopia, the age-related loss of the eye’s ability to focus on nearby objects, affects nearly everyone after the age of 40. It happens as the lens inside the eye gradually stiffens, making close-up tasks like reading increasingly difficult.

The experimental drops combine two active ingredients: pilocarpine, which constricts the pupil and sharpens near focus, and diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory agent that helps reduce discomfort associated with pilocarpine use.

In clinical tests, patients received drops in concentrations of 1%, 2%, or 3% pilocarpine. The results were striking. Within just an hour of use, patients gained an average improvement of 3.45 lines on the Jaeger eye chart. One year later, about 83% of patients maintained good functional near vision without glasses.

The 1% group saw the most consistent results, with 99% of patients able to read two or more extra lines. In the higher concentration groups, up to 84% of patients could read three or more lines.

Side effects were mild, researchers reported. About one-third of patients noticed temporary dimming of vision, while a small fraction reported headaches or irritation. Importantly, no serious complications such as retinal detachment or increased eye pressure were observed.

These results suggest that different concentrations could be tailored to individuals depending on the severity of their presbyopia. “Patients with less severe presbyopia responded best to 1% concentrations, while those with more advanced presbyopia required higher concentrations to achieve significant visual improvement,” Dr. Benozzi explained.

Experts not involved in the study say the findings could mark an important step forward, particularly for people who are not candidates for corrective surgery. However, they also urge caution. “Broader, long-term, multi-center studies are needed to confirm safety and effectiveness before this treatment can be widely recommended,” said Professor Burkhard Dick, chair of ophthalmology at the University Eye Hospital Bochum in Germany and president-elect of the ESCRS.

For now, reading glasses remain the most reliable option. But if these drops continue to prove safe and effective, the day may come when the simple act of squeezing liquid into your eye could give millions of people around the world the freedom to read again without lenses.