Cataract disease affects almost 30% of Spanish people over 60 years of age and is responsible for the cause of blindness in about 20 million people around the world. It is a reversible disease and is easily cured through surgery. It is also a fact that surgery is increasingly simple and advanced; nowadays, you can do the repair in about twenty minutes and walk out of the hospital seeing a much clearer and more vivid world.
However, it is still a benefit for few, as the costs are expensive and require high-quality professionals. Elderly people without health insurance are at the mercy of public hospitals and collective efforts; which aggravates the situation, as serious complications arise if all necessary care is not taken with basic hygiene conditions, for example. Faced with this situation, American researchers have developed an eye drop capable of dissolving cataracts.
A cataract is the darkening of the lens of the eye; It usually happens in the elderly over 60, but cases such as infections or congenital diseases can bring harm to the lives of younger people as well. If left untreated, cataracts can lead to blindness and also cause a significant loss in people's quality of life.
Researchers at the University of California, United States, studied cases of congenital cataracts, performed tests on rabbits and dogs and may have discovered an effective eyedrop in the treatment of this disease that excludes the need for surgery. From the follow-up of two children who had the disease since birth, they discovered that the lack of production of the corticoid lanosterol created the opacity. They then developed an eye drops based on this input and carried out thorough tests on guinea pigs.
The study is in the testing phase in the United States and must go a long way to be approved for use in humans. However, it is a hope for cataract sufferers without access to surgery. It is science proving itself more and more innovative and advanced.
Written by Roberta Lopes of the Eu Sem Fronteiras Team
