Daily eye drops could replace reading glasses for millions of people with presbyopia. Nearly half the UK adult population has presbyopia, the normal loss of near focusing that occurs with age, typically from the age of 40. The condition develops when the lens in the eye, which changes shape to focus light on the retina for clear vision at different distances, becomes more rigid. Early in life, the lens is soft and flexible and easily changes shape, allowing us to focus on objects both near and far. But as we get older the lens becomes less elastic, making it more difficult to see objects close up.