Cataracts is the most common cause of blindness in humans across the globe. It clouds the lens, rendering the patient with limited vision that worsens over time. This is rampant among people over the age of 40. What’s even more agonizing is the amount of pain and operation fees that patients need to undergo.
The US National Eye Institute estimates that more than half of all Americans are either diagnosed with cataract, or have had cataract-related surgery at the age of 80.
The good news is that Kang Zhang, an ophthalmologist by profession, was able to formulate an eye drop that melts clumps of protein blocking the eye’s lenses. He was able to do so after finding out that one contributor of cataract is a mutation that’s stopping the eye from producing lanosterol.
The eye-drop is a whole lot cheaper than surgeries and it’s easy to dispense. In as short as five years, the twice-a-day drops is expected to penetrate the market and set the trend for curing eye cataracts.
Initially tested in rabbits and dogs, the eye-drop is now curing pensioners and older people. The curing wonders of the lanosterol-based eye drops is largely owed to its natural properties.
Since lanosterol is naturally produced by the human eye, there is no substantial hazard involved in the curing process. It could also last up to five to seven years in bathroom cabinets.
As opposed to laser surgeries which have potent side effects such as dizziness, vertigo, and the like, lanosterol eye drops are safer and cost effective.
Of course, Zhang and his team, together with pharmaceutical companies, will largely benefit from the humongous sales that can be expected from lanosterol eye drops. However, it’s a win-win situation since large cost savings are received by patients.
Though the cause of cataracts is not yet fully determined, maintaining a good and healthy lifestyle is imperative. There’s no substitute in religiously eating vegetables, exercising, and getting adequate sleep. No eye drop can provide the same value as that!
