‘Miracle’ eye drops could save thousands from the misery of injections to prevent blindness

Home / Pharmaceutical Updates / ‘Miracle’ eye drops could save thousands from the misery of injections to prevent blindness
May 24, 2017May 24, 2017
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  • Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of sight loss in UK and US
  • The condition is treated with painful drug injections directly into the eye
  • Scientists have uncovered a way of delivering the drug painlessly via eye drops
  • The drops use molecules that penetrate eye cells as well as current injections

Revolutionary eye drops that could save thousands from the misery of injections for blindness have been unveiled by scientists.

The drops target age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of sight loss in the UK and US.

Until now, the condition has been treated with painful drug injections directly into the eye, which leaves patients at risk of tearing and painful infections.

Yet British researchers have now found a way of delivering the same drug using eye drops instead of a needle.

The drops contain substances that are capable of penetrating the cells of the eye to harmlessly deliver the drug.

Revolutionary eye drops that could save thousands of people from the misery of injections for age-related macular degeneration blindness have been unveiled by scientists (stock image)

Revolutionary eye drops that could save thousands of people from the misery of injections for age-related macular degeneration blindness have been unveiled by scientists

WHAT IS AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a painless eye condition that leads to a gradual loss of central vision.

It is the most common cause of visual impairment in the UK and US.

AMD causes central vision to become blurred resulting in symptoms such as difficulty reading and problems recognising people’s faces.

It occurs when the macular – the part of the eye responsible for central vision – stops functioning effectively.

AMD usually affects both eyes, but the speed of progression can vary between eyes.

It is thought to be triggered by aging, smoking and genetics.

Scientists from the University of Birmingham invented the eye drop delivery method.

Their research revealed eye drops are just as effective at delivering drugs as conventional injections.

The drop use a molecule known as a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) to deliver the drug to the relevant part of the eye within minutes.

Study author Dr Felicity de Cogan said: ‘The CPP-drug has the potential to have a significant impact on the treatment of AMD by revolutionising drug-delivery options.

‘Efficacious self-administered drug application by eye drop would lead to a significant reduction in adverse outcomes and healthcare costs compared with current treatments.

‘The CPP-plus drug complex also has potential applications to other chronic ocular diseases that require drug delivery to the posterior chamber of the eye.

‘We believe this is going to be very important in terms of empowering of patients and reducing the cost of treatment to the NHS.’

AMD affects more than 600,000 people in the UK alone and is the leading cause of vision loss

AMD affects more than 600,000 people in the UK alone and is the leading cause of vision loss

The research was published in Opthamology and Visual Science.

AMD affects more than 600,000 people in the UK and predictions suggest this figure could rise sharply in the future due to an ageing population.

It is a painless condition that causes people to gradually lose their central vision in both eyes.

AMD is currently treated by repeated injections into the eye on a monthly basis over at least three years.

Apart from being an unpleasant procedure for patients, the injections can cause tearing and infections inside the eye and even an increased risk of blindness.