Effect of urea on lens protein of multilamellar bodies in senile nuclear cataract

Background: Addressing the biochemical and physical changes leading to development of cataract and reversal of this process is a research target for ophthalmologists. Currently the only way to treat cataract is by surgical intervention which entails a big economic and logistic burden especially in underdeveloped nations and is not risk free. This study aims at demonstrating the effect of urea solution on the cataractous lens. Methods: : In this ex vivo experiment, we injected urea solution in a concentration of 96 mmol/L in hard cataractous nuclei removed by cataract surgery. Results: showed that urea restored transparency of these opaque nuclei. Electron microscopic examination of those lenses before and after injection showed disorganization of lamellar bodies (hallmark sign of cataract) with restoration of the regular pattern of extracellular spaces within the lens and hence better light transmission. Conclusion: Injection of urea solution, 0.96 mol/L, in human hard cataract nuclei in an ex vivo experiment leads to changes in the electron microscopic characteristics of cataractous lens mainly affecting lamellar bodies, namely via biochemical changes leading to changes in protein structure, which contributes to restoring lens transparency.This observation may carry the potential for us to be able to develop a way to prevent and perhaps reverse cataract by simply administering urea eye drops.