New Eye Drop Formula Counteracts Cataracts

Across the globe, cataracts are responsible for around 50% of blindness cases that see lenses cloud up and negatively affect vision. While some can be treated with surgery the process is costly and time consuming which means many developing countries must simply accept cataracts as a part of everyday life. Now, a team of scientists has developed a revolutionary new drug treatment that could represent a new era of enlightenment for treating cataracts in third world countries. Fast and cost effective, the topical drops have been proven to shrink cataracts in dog’s eyes, and could now be used on humans.

Scrutinizing cataracts

While the majority of cataracts are simply a result of aged eyeballs, some conditions are triggered as a result of genetic defect or injury. Along with his University of California San Diego research team, Professor Kang Zhang started experimenting with treating genetic cataracts. They studied two families, both with children who were born with congenital cataracts. They discovered that the children suffering from congenital cataracts possessed a mutated gene that produces a small molecule called lanosterol. While the healthy version prevents proteins from clumping and forming cataracts, the mutated version actively causes cloudiness. To treat the genetic mutation Zhang and his team pioneered an eye drop solution containing lanosterol. They tested the solution on cataract affected rabbit lenses and discovered that after being soaked for just six days cataracts reduced in size.

“We went on to test the effect of the eye drops in dogs with cataracts. We gave them eye drops twice a day for six weeks and found it had reduced the effect of cataract severity,” Zhang explains.

While the cataracts are likely to reform after drops are withheld Zhang maintains that the topical drug could help prevent cataracts in the early stages. He also asserts that the ultimate goal of the study is to create an affordable and effective drug that can be mass applied in low-resource communities.

Cynicism from the experts

The development is revolutionary however professional eye specialists weren’t as quick to praise the findings. Dr Manuel Datiles, a senior investigator and attending ophthalmologist at the National Eye Institute in the National Institutes of Health commented, “You cannot compare the improvements shown in this study with surgery. With cataract surgery, you become 20 years old again; with this one the lens is cleared up, but your vision can still be murky.”

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