We often hear that old anecdote – “don’t take something for granted” but this puts a whole new spin on that.
With over 285 Million people out there who suffer with vision problems, it’s estimated that 32.4 Million are also blind. According to the Fred Hollows Foundation, approximately 90% of these people lie in developing countries where medical assistance is not always available. More than half of those cases are caused by cataracts.
Indeed, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness globally.
The surgery needed to remove cataracts is expensive and this makes in unattainable to most. Of course, this is not just a problem developing nations face.
Over 22 Million Americans over the age of 40 suffer from cataracts according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology and an even more shocking finding is that at the age of 80, more than HALF of all Americans will suffer the same fate and may have to face painful, expensive surgeries to clear up the problem.
However, a new treatment option has surfaced that may make the process safer, gentler and more affordable to the majority. Researchers in the US have created a drug which can be administered via an eye dropper, directly into the affected eye. It dissolves cataracts.
Despite remarkable promises, it has yet bee tested on humans, slated to enter clinical trials, but due to strict regulations placed to ensure no extreme side effects associated with new drugs, it will still be quite a while before these drops enter the market as a viable alternative option to surgery.
However, this remains a MASSIVE step forward.
Futurism reports How does it works;
“Cataracts result from the structure of the crystallin proteins that make up the lens in our eyes. Specifically, they form when this structure deteriorates, which causes the proteins to clump together, forming a milky layer over the eye that obstructs vision.
Scientists aren’t entirely sure what causes the proteins to do this (in other words, they’re not entirely certain why cataracts form in the first place). That said, there are some ideas, and this is where the new drug comes in.
This treatment was created based on a naturally-occurring steroid, which is known as “lanosterol.” Scientists recently discovered two siblings who had cataracts when their parents did not. These siblings shared a mutation that stopped the production of lanosterol. Notably, their parents did not have this mutation.
The scientists then thought, if the parents are producing lanosterol and don’t have cataracts, then perhaps their kids have cataracts because they aren’t producing lanosterol. Thus, adding lanosterol to the eye (or something that is similar to it) might stop the crystallin proteins from clumping together and forming cataracts.”
When tested on rabbits, the hypothesis came back very promising. in just a week, 2 of the 13 subjects had reduced cataracts, with the same finding in dogs.
If the trials work out successfully on humans, millions of lives globally could be changed for the better. We’re talking the difference between blindness and sight!
Ruben Abagyan, co-author of the paper hopes that these lanosterol drops will have the same effect on humans. In his press release, he stated “I think the natural next step is looking to translate it into humans. There’s nothing more exciting than that.”
If you enjoyed this article please SHARE it.
You can follow us on Instagram here
My Name is Kasim Khan and I am the founder of Educate Inspire Change. I have just returned from a 1 week stay at the world’s first medically licensed plant medicine retreat, its called Rythmia and is in the beautiful country of Costa Rica. During this week I had the most profound and transformational experience of my life and it’s not only me . . .over 95% of people who embark on this journey at Rythmia reports that they too had a life changing miracle. This magical place had such a profound effect on me that I am now dedicating my time to sharing this healing opportunity of a lifetime with you all.
Please click HERE to find out more information and book yourself in for the most magical week of your life.
Kasim Khan
Creator of EducateInspireChange
The post Scientists Have Made Eye Drops that Dissolve Cataracts appeared first on Educate Inspire Change.