Peptide-based treatment strategies for cataract.

Cataract produces vision loss due to opacification of the lens. Two possible reasons for cataract formation are insolubility of crystallin proteins and fibril (aggregate) formation. Currently, the only available treatment is surgical replacement of the lens with a synthetic one. An alternative treatment that is both economically and technologically accessible is needed in developing countries where untreated cataract and coincident blindness is high, access to trained surgeons is limited, and the cost of surgery may be prohibitive. We present current progress toward the development of a nonsurgical treatment strategy focusing on promoting protein solubility and/or dissolving fibrillar aggregates.