Believe it or not, we may be able to use eye drops instead of reading glasses! More than one-third of Americans have presbyopia, a gradual loss of near vision with age. Most people reach for eyeglasses or bifocal contact lenses, but in the future there may be a promising non-surgical eye drop treatment for presbyopia. There are two types of eye drops that may help patients with near vision age related focusing problems. One type-called a miotic-constricts the pupil and limits out of focus visual information. Another type-a lens softening eye drop-works by softening the crystalline lens which restores the flexibility of the crystalline lens making it able to change focus as it did when you were younger. Both types of drops are in clinical trials, where their safety and effectiveness are being tested in patients and experts predict that perhaps one drop may get the approval within the next two years. Every person’s eyes are unique and glasses, drops and surgery all have their pros and cons. In the meantime if you or someone you know needs help with presbyopia and near vision please call and schedule an eye exam at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham at 205-930-0930, visit Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or Facebook.