Medical treatment of cataract.

The incidence of cataract continues to increase with the ageing of the population. Surgical treatment with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation remains the only proven treatment. This, however, is associated with significant cost and is not readily available especially in the developing countries where the prevalence of cataract is the highest. Medical treatment of cataract is therefore a highly desired alternative. Since the last major review of medical treatment of cataract the search for an anti-cataract agent has advanced on many fronts. Some anti-cataract drugs, such as carnosine, have now reached clinical trials and showed encouraging results that warrant further investigation. The discovery of an effective medical treatment for cataract is likely to make global impact on eye health. The aims of this paper are to review the literature on the drug therapy of cataract and provide updates of the latest development.