Hope of eye drops to prevent cataract raised by US researchers

Clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of lanosterol in preventing the development of cataracts could start in California with the next two years.

Research in the US claims that lanosterol, the main molecule in steroids, could be used to prevent the build-up of proteins clouding the eye’s lens. Dr Kang Zhang, from the University of California, is reported to have said that the natural production of lanosterol declines as we age allowing the onset of cataracts. In vitro and in vivo tests have shown the drug to prevent protein aggregation, which the researchers said points to a potential treatment for cataract prevention. This could be in the form of a low cost eye drop to stop the development of cataracts, the leading cause of blindness in the world.