METHODS OF INHIBITING CATARACTS AND PRESBYOPIA

摘要

Described herein are methods of inhibiting or reversing the progression of cataract formation or presbyopia in an eye by administering a &bgr;L-crystallin electrostatic interaction inhibitor. Both presbyopia and cataracts are caused by aggregation of the soluble crystalline lens proteins called the crystallins, particularly &bgr;L-crystallin. It has been found that the aggregation of &bgr;L-crystallin is an electrostatic phenomenon and that electrostatic interaction inhibitors can be employed to prevent the formation of &bgr;L-crystallin aggregates as well as to deaggregate already formed aggregates.