Assessment of Cataract Photobleaching Therapy in Animals

随着人口年龄的增长，白内障的病例也会增加。这种疾病导致眼睛的透镜混浊，并导致视力障碍和失明。白内障是失明的主要原因，影响全球51%以上的人口。准确的诊断目前是困难的，依赖于眼科医生使用裂隙灯显微镜的主观判断。唯一的治疗方法是通过手术干预，用塑料替代品替代天然透镜。该项目基于Edinburgh Biosciences Ltd及其合作伙伴对白内障形成，诊断和LED光漂白治疗的重要研究，特别是使用提取的晶状体和眼睛。它将证实实验室实验，并转化为来自完整活体眼睛的实时数据，证实逆转白内障损伤的安全性和能力。因此，证明LED光漂白是一种非侵入性的替代手术。此外，监测LED治疗的效果可以减少白内障的发展，从而影响生活质量。成功将使患者保留天然透镜，具有避免手术、消除术后风险和保持天然透镜的适应能力的优点。这种治疗将提高越来越多的白内障患者的生活质量，同时减少英国3.3亿英镑的白内障手术费用。由于白内障是一个全球性问题，因此有效解决方案的市场也是全球性的。

As the population grows older the instances of cataract increases. This disease causes cloudiness of the lens of the eye and leads to visual impairment and blindness. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness affecting over 51% of the global population. Accurate diagnosis is currently difficult, relying on the subjective judgement of the opthalmologist using a slit lamp microscope. The only treatment is by surgical intervention to substitute the natural lens with a plastic replacement. This project is based on significant research by Edinburgh Biosciences Ltd and partners into cataract formation, diagnosis and LED photobleaching treatment notably using extracted lenses and eyes. It will confirm laboratory experiments and translate into live data from a complete living eye confirming both the safety and ability to reverse cataract damage. Thus proving LED photobleaching is a non-invasive alternative to surgery. Furthermore monitoring the effects of LED treatment could reduce the development of cataracts to the point where they affect the quality of life. Success would enable patients to retain the natural lens with the advantages of avoiding surgery, removing the post-operative risks and maintaining the adaption capability of the natural lens. Such treatment would improve the quality of life for the increasing number of cataract sufferers while reducing the £330 Million cost of cataract surgery in the UK. Since cataract is a global problem, the market for an efficient solution is also global.