Therapeutic effect of Intravitreal Lanosterol on Cataract in Rabbit Model

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intra vitreal lanosterol on cataract treatment in rabbit model. Methods: Ten Adult male New Zealand white healthy rabbits received intravitreal single injection of 0.1 ml from 0.01% w/v of sodium selenite solution in both eyes for Cataract induction. One week after cataract creation twice intravitreal lanosterol (100μg) loaded nanoparticles was injected with two weeks interval in the left eye and the right eye was considered as a control. After maximum pupillary dilatation animals were assessed with slit lamp and direct ophthalmoscopy at weeks 2, 4 and 6 for cataract change and side effect (PS formation) . Lens opacityevaluated using WHO cataract grading system. After data collection, analysis was done by Friedman test for cataract change and Fisher exact test for side effect evaluation.Results: Data analysis using Friedman test showed no significant changes in grade of cataract in both lanosterol and control group after six weeks (p=0.49). Fisher exact test result for posterior synechia evaluation showed significant correlation between intravitreal lanosterol and PS formation.(p=0.05) Conclusion: intravitreal lanosterol failed to reverse lens opacity in rabbit model, besides that our experiment has demonstrated that safety of intravitreal lanosterol is questionable.