Caffeine may be effective in protecting the lens against damage that could lead to the formation of cataracts according to a study presented at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD hypothesized that caffeine may inhibit the intraocular generation of reactive oxygen species in the lens and consequent damage to the tissue.

The team studied the oxyradical effects in vitro by incubating mice lenses in medium exposed UVA in the presence of kynurenine with and without caffeine. In vivo studies were conducted in rats by incorporating caffeine with galactose in their diet. In both cases, caffeine was found to be effective in protecting the lens against damage.

As reported in the abstract, “These effects of caffeine have not been reported before and are hence considered highly interesting in view of its relatively high content in widely consumed beverages.” Additional research to determine the pharmacological significance of this study is underway.

Scientists have developed a new formula that combines a potent antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory drug into nano sized particles.  This new formulation is advantagous because more of the drug can penetrate the eye and stay in the eye longer.  This is especially important in the treatment of bacterial keratitis, a condition in which bacteria attack the corneal stroma and can result in severe vision loss. Current treatment requires frequent use  of topical antibiotics - one drop every 5 minutes to start and then more drops every 15-30 minutes for up to 3 days - and daily use of anti-inflammatory drugs. This intensive treatment regimen is difficult for patients to follow.

Howida Kamal Ibrahim and colleagues in a study in Molecular Pharmaceutics, a bi-monthly journal describe the development of a new two-in-one formula that combines the antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drug into a single medication. The eye drops contain nano-sized particles - each about 1/50,000th the width of a human hair - of an antibiotic (gatifloxacin) and an anti-inflammatory drug (prednisolone) coated with a substance that keeps the medicine in the eye longer. In tests with lab animals, the drops delivered five times more medication to the eye and it remained there three times longer than existing medicine, the scientists say.
Article: “Mucoadhesive Nanoparticles as Carrier Systems for Prolonged Ocular Delivery of Gatifloxacin/Prednisolone Bitherapy”