Cataracts. Has anyone attempted to use Lanosterol Eyedrops to dissolve their cataracts?

[Vitsbelievervk2mk7]

Lanerstol Eye Drops are marketed for use on animal cataracts to clear their lenses, seemingly, with success. Internet search suggests more research is being carried out as human lenses are apparently tougher than horses, dogs and rabbits and dosage may need to be amended. Has anyone any knowledge or experience about use on themselves?

[Koalajane]

I am just wondering why anyone would use something like this that is not registered for use on us when cataract surgery is readily available, pain free and quick. I would never mess about with my eyes in this way

[123-go in reply to Koalajane]

I agree 100%.

[Kendrew in reply to Koalajane]

Agree completely. I'd never engage in administering anything into my eyes under such circumstances. I personally feel the safety of such a treatment on a human, to be highly questionable when no reliable or comprehensive clinical trials have been undertaken.

As you said, the replacement of my lens seems the perfect option, particularly when glasses may no longer be required after the procedure.

[123-go]

I won’t be volunteering for that one.😳

[Koalajane in reply to 123-go]

I certainly won’t. Had my cataracts done anyway!

[Bobbury in reply to 123-go]

Nor me!!!!!

[Vitsbelievervk2mk7]

Thanks all.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

verywellhealth.com/eye-drop....

There is work ongoing with tests being done in primates, not with drops but with intravitreal injections - which are considered neither convenient nor safe for long term use. Something working for an animal doesn't mean it is safe for human use and you often don't get second chances with eyes.

Cataract surery is easily available to us - why risk your vision with something that hasn't been clinically trialled?

If it does work, it will be a great advance for use where the socioeconomic burden of surgery is too immense for blanket use. But only when it has been developed and tested properly/

[Vitsbelievervk2mk7 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks Piglette &PMRpro I agree with your thoughts. I wondered whether anyone here had gone ahead and risked it. I saw one paper suggesting Lanasterol had been used in exceptional circumstances but without any further details.

[Karenjaninaz in reply to Vitsbelievervk2mk7]

Remember, there is always money to be made every which way.

[piglette]

Nature did a pretty good report on Lanerstol. nature.com/articles/s41598-... It may possibly work on rats, but not so sure about human beings! I am not going to be first to offer to try and find out!

[WaltzG]

Who knows in years to come cateracts will be easily treated like this and it will be a very strange to think that people had to have them surgically removed!! But right now I wouldn't want to experiment!!

[Gimme]

Good grief! I value my eyes too much. I wouldn't dream of treating my own eyes without medical supervision, and doubly so, with something that is unlicensed for that use. It would be totally reckless. The only exception would be licensed Over The Counter treatments that have already been shown to be safe.

One important consideration for any medicines for human use, even if it works in animals, is that we tend to live significantly longer than most animals that are likely to be treated. That means that long term effects that appear a long time afterwards could be potentially a much greater risk to us.

[VOTSODsurvivor]

For me, one of the best decisions in recent years was to have cataract replacement in both eyes. Yes, it was relatively easy and the recovery was quick. I now have 20-20 vision. No more glasses. Hello new sunglasses!

[Vitsbelievervk2mk7 in reply to VOTSODsurvivor]

pleased it all worked out well for you.

[NuttyR]

My elderly Aunt is losing sight through having cataracts. She has dystonia and a heart condition. Her head constantly shakes and she isn’t able to have an anaesthetic so has been advised that she isn’t suitable for the ops sadly, if something like this was available she would jump at the chance. I’m sure there will be other people with conditions which present substantial risks when faced with the operation, so let’s hope something good does come out of this. I certainly won’t be mentioning this to her though!!

[Karenjaninaz in reply to NuttyR]

In that case she would need a general anesthetic; they do that for kids who have congenital cataracts.

[NuttyR in reply to Karenjaninaz]

Thanks for your reply. Sadly she’s been told by her consultant that she’s not able to have a general anaesthetic as I mentioned. She’s 92 now and I’ve bought her reading lamps and magnifiers with lights on, large print crosswords and novels. Would be lovely if something else could help her gain a little more sight. But thank you so much for replying. I was just commenting that there will be people who could benefit from something other than an op.

[Karenjaninaz in reply to NuttyR]

The head can be taped still and a local anesthetic to the eye is done. I was a standby nurse anesthetist in an eye hospital for many years. And this was years ago.

I suggest a eye specialty hospital ; they might find a way.

[NuttyR in reply to Karenjaninaz]

Ok thanks for the advice. Will pass it on.

[rcwz]

I developed cataracts pretty quickly from the prednisone. My vision has always been bad so the idea of eye surgery was frightening and I'd have jumped at an eyedrops fix.

But, honestly, this has turned out to be a huge benefit -- the surgery was kind of fun and my vision is better than it's ever been. I can see things I didn't know people were supposed to be able to see. (Had been wearing glasses since about age 6, needed them earlier probly.)

I do now need reading glasses for near work which I didn't before but still very happy for the upgrade.