World’s First Drug To Prevent Cataract Blindness

Oct 182011

In a major breakthrough, the world’s 1^st drug capable of preventing blindness from cataracts has been developed by Australian scientists.

Cataracts develop when calpain, a protein, clouds the eye lens & impairs vision. The calpain protein may be activated by several triggers, including ageing. At present, the only treatment for cataract is to surgically remove the cloudy lens and replace it with synthetic lens.

Now, Adelaide University researchers claim to have discovered a non-surgical treatment for the debilitating condition.

The unique drug compound targets the calpain protein in the eye tissue and has proven very effective in the preliminary trials.

According to scientists, the treatment could be in the form of cream or drops to be put in the eye every night before bed.

The drug is capable of slowing cataract development so significantly that it eliminates the need for surgery.