New research funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), aims to not only reverse progression of cataracts, but prevent them from forming altogether.
While today's modern cataract surgery has come a long way from the treatment procedures of ancient Egypt, there are still areas in the world where modern cataract surgery is unavailable and today's procedures still have risks, such as secondary cataract and fibrosis.
NEI researchers are currently involved in a number of studies surrounding cataracts, including identifying genes associated with congenital cataracts, and what keeps crystallins in lens fiber cells stable and properly folded so lenses stay transparent.
Additionally, NEI-funded researchers reportedly completed a clinical trial of a topical treatment for cataracts in dogs, finding an 85 percent reduction in cataract formation in diabetic dogs. The researchers believe the drug he developed, which prevents cataract formation by stopping a metabolic reaction in lens epithelial and fiber cells, may also work in humans.
Photo courtesy National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health
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Source: National Eye Institute