N-Acetyl Carnosine for Cataracts

The most common treatment of age-related cataracts is surgery, which has the possibility of complications. Russian scientist Mark Babizhayev, M.A., Ph.D., and his research team developed the alternative treatment of eye drops using the active ingredient of N-acetyl carnosine (NAC). NAC treats cataracts with the anti-oxidant L-carnosine.

Cause

• According to the Mayo Clinic, age-related cataracts are caused by the breakdown of the structure of protein fibers in the lens of the eye. The broken-down fibers clump together, which causes the clouding of the lens characteristic of cataracts. The Mayo Clinic suggests that damage created by free radicals may be responsible for the process that causes the development of cataracts in the elderly.

Anti-Oxidants

• Free radicals are unstable molecules that cause cellular damage by stealing electrons from surrounding molecules in a chain reaction that creates more free radicals and more damage. Anti-oxidants are substances thought to reduce cellular damage caused by free radicals.

NAC and Can-C

• Babizhayev's company, Innovate Vision Products Inc. (IVP), holds worldwide patents for the treatment of senile cataracts with NAC. The trademarked name of the NAC formula developed by the company is Can-C. Innovative Vision Products has offices in Moscow and in New Castle, Delaware.

Function

• According to International Anti-Aging Systems.com, NAC treats cataracts by delivering the anti-oxidant L-carnosine into the aqueous humor (fluid area surrounding the lens) of the eye. This protects structural lens proteins from free-radical damage.

Potential

• Innovative Vision Products conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled study in 49 subjects with a diagnosis of senile cataracts. The oft-cited study observed the effects in 26 subjects of taking NAC eye drops twice per day over a period of either six months or two years with evaluation at six-month intervals.

  According to the study, after six months, visual acuity was improved by 7 to 100 percent in 90 percent of NAC-treated eyes, with 88.9 percent showing from 27 to 100 percent improvement in glare sensitivity.

Cautions

• The following statement by David Wong, Scientific Committee chairman, was released by the British Royal College of Ophthalmologists:

  "The evidence for the effectiveness of N-acetyl-carnosine eye drops is based on experience on a small number of cases carried out by a Russian research team. To date, the research has not been corroborated and the results replicated by others. The long-term effect is unknown. We do not feel the evidence base for the safety is in any way sufficient to recommend its use. More research is needed."