During the last several years, testing of different forms of Carnosine eye drops for the treatment of age-related cataracts has been taking place at the Helmholtz Institute of Eye Disease in Moscow.
One clinical study used 96 patients, each having cataracts from 2-21 years.
Using only n-alpha acetylcarnosine as a treatment for 3 to 6 months, an astounding improvement in the vision of all participants was recorded.
A 100% effective rate was noted for those with beginning stages of cataract.
Even for those having a cataract for the longest time showed an 80% effective rate for vision improvement.
Further studies show usage in patients between 48-60 years of age with various visual impairments, but no cataracts, alleviated eye-tiredness and improved vision, indicating the eye drops are also a preventative treatment.
There were no significant side effects in either study.
Cataracts now account for approximately 42% of blindness worldwide, in spite of surgery or other treatment, with the number of people developing cataracts set to explode.
Within the next 25 years, the World Health Organization estimates 20% of the population will be age 65 or older.
Currently 1.
35 million cataract surgeries are performed yearly in the United States alone, with Medicare costs at a staggering $3.
5 billion for these surgeries.
The incidence of blindness in Third World countries is much higher, with little money to pay even fewer surgeons for the necessary surgeries.
Using eye drops to treat age-related, cataracts, will impact eye health worldwide both now, and in the decades to come.