Cataract Cure: Eye Drops May Replace Surgery For Common Cause Of Blindness

New findings published in the journal Nature reveal that cataracts might one day be treated with eye drops instead of surgery.

Researchers at Yat-sen University in Guangzhou have discovered that the naturally-occurring molecule lanosterol helped shrink canine cataracts when administered with an eyedropper.

As cataracts remain the most common cause of blindness among humans, the findings hold quite a promising potential. Though cataract surgery is simple and rather safe, it's estimated that within the next 20 years alone, the number of those in need of surgery will double.

"It would have a huge public health impact," said Dr. Robert B. Bhisitkul, a professor of ophthalmology at the UC San Francisco School of Medicine who was not involved in the research, via the Los Angeles Times. "Preventing or reversing cataracts with an eyedrop has been the Holy Grail in ophthalmology since the field began."

Researchers are still understanding just how cataracts form, but what they know now at least is that the "fog" seen by patients is the result of a glob of broken proteins clumped together from malfunction.

A series of lab experiments confirmed that lanosterol helped to ward off the proteins, while further tests in dogs with naturally-occurring cataracts showed that after six weeks of treatment, both the size and cloudiness of the cataracts had decreased, according to the Live Science.

However, future studies will be necessary before human trials can begin. The researchers also added that they will probably test out other molecules for effectiveness along the way.

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