Cataract surgery, a common procedure to restore vision, may one day have a non-surgical alternative in the form of eye drops. A new analysis of past research conducted at the John A. Moran Eye Center supports further testing to determine if cataracts might someday be reversed with eye drops.
C-KAD Eye Drops Target Early-Stage Cataracts
The analysis focuses on a multicenter Phase 1/2 clinical trial that tested C-KAD, an eye drop solution developed by Livionex, Inc. These drops are designed to reverse early-stage cataracts, specifically when individuals begin to notice a decline in contrast sensitivity—the ability to discern low-contrast images. The drops function by removing heavy metals associated with the accumulation of abnormal proteins in the lens, a hallmark of age-related cataracts.
Current Treatment Landscape and the Promise of Eye Drops
Currently, the only FDA-approved treatment for age-related cataracts is surgery, where the cloudy lens is replaced with a clear artificial one. According to Moran Eye Center CEO Randall J Olson, "This eye drop therapy has the potential to help millions of patients challenged by cataracts worldwide." However, he cautioned that the initial study was short-term, did not show improvement in all patients, and only tested early cataracts.
Details of the Clinical Trial and Data Analysis
The clinical trial, conducted at Moran and five other sites in 2008, involved participants using either the C-KAD drops or a placebo for four months. The initial results suggested some lens clearing in certain patients. However, the trial did not demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in contrast sensitivity compared to the placebo group due to limitations of the vision test used.
The new analysis addresses these limitations, revealing that contrast sensitivity did improve for a significant portion of patients. This corrected data has paved the way for the drops to advance into Phase 3 clinical trials.
Future Directions
While the initial results are promising, further research is needed to determine the long-term effects of the eye drops and at what stage of cataract formation they are most effective. The potential for a non-surgical treatment option could significantly impact the millions affected by cataracts globally.
