A gel to replace reading glasses

Australian scientists have developed a new method to avoid eye surgery cataract patients. A revolutionary gel could soon replace the need for reading glasses or laser eye surgery. A BBC health report states that scientists in Australia have developed a gel which they reverses the deterioration insight associated with getting old. The gel is used to replace the contents of the eye’s lens, which over the years can harden and reduce vision. Scientists in the United States first demonstrated in the late 1980s that replacing the contents of an ageing monkey’s lens with silicone oil could restore its ability to focus. But since silicone oil leaks it was never going to have any practical use in humans.

Now scientists at the Australian Government’s multi-national Vision Co-operative Research Centre (Vision CRC) have developed an alternative to silicone oil. It has already been tested successfully on rabbits. There are now plans to test it on monkeys before possible human trials. "In the best-case scenario, we should begin human trials by the end of next year", said Dr. Arthur Ho of Vision CRC. Implanting the gel would be very similar to current cataract surgery, except that the lens is not replaced. Instead, after making a small incision in the cornea, a doctor would cut a tiny hole in the lens capsule and suck out the contents. The gel, which has the consistency of thick oil, is pumped in and a burst of UV or visible light transforms it into jelly. "This would be a quick 15 minute procedure," said Dr. Ho. Dr. Hugh Taylor, director of the Centre for Eye Research Australia in Melbourne, said: "This technique has enormous potential. It will totally change ophthalmic surgery, if we can get it right."

The Vision CRC has grown out of the explosion in the need for eye care in Australia and worldwide. Over three billion people in the world need vision correction, and this number is growing rapidly. (Myopia is reaching epidemic proportions due to heredity increased screen and text-based activity). The ageing population is bringing about a staggering demographic shift so that presbyopia will soon affect over 40% of the population. From this need comes an enormous opportunity.

The centre will conduct major programmes in the areas of myopia, presbyopia, vision care delivery, business growth, professional and academic education. Most recently the Vision CRC brought together the world leaders in myopia research to launch the Center’s Myopia Programme, which aims at understanding and controlling the condition. Over 30 researchers attended the meeting at Sanctuary Cove, Queensland, from 21-25 March, 2003. "Myopia is of huge concern", says Professor Holden. "High Myopia is the second highest cause of blindness in Asia and the number of sufferers is growing rapidly."

The Vision CRC involves an array of outstanding national and international researchers from 37 organizations who have come together to tackle the eye care challenge.