Preventative AK treatment developed by UWS researchers

Researchers at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) have created a treatment that prevents the development of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK).

After 13 years of research, UWS has been granted a patent to protect the novel compound with a view to it being added during the manufacturing stages of contact lens solutions.

UWS intends to create a company in order to roll-out the additive to contact lens and eye care solutions.

Lead researcher Professor Fiona Henriquez said: ‘Until now, there has been no single-step solution that contact lens wearers or medical professionals can take to kill the pathogen. Acanthamoeba is an incredibly strong organism and once it gets inside the eye, and is exposed to medicine, it’s able to form a hard, resistant shell, repelling attack from medication – it can even resist strong disinfectants.’