The Californian team claims that the treatment is long-term and, in some cases, permanent.
While cataracts cannot spread from one eye to the other, they can occur independently in both eyes.
The scientists first noticed the cataract-blocking properties of lanosterol in two Chinese children.
However, their parents did not show the mutation and, therefore, never developed cataracts.
The researchers concluded that lanosterol had some link with the appearance of cataracts.
They studied the effect of lanesterol in canines who had a naturally occurring form of the disease.
It was observed that administering lanesterol cleared the vision of the dogs completely within six weeks.
While not allied with this study, King has been involved in cataract research for the past 15 years.
It is estimated that nearly 50 million Americans will have cataracts by 2050.
The results have been published inNature.
source: www.techworm.net
