A cataract is clouding of the eye's natural lens, usually from aging. It affects more than half of Americans over 80. Surgery to replace the clouded lens with a clear artificial one is routine and highly effective, with millions of procedures performed each year in the U.S. alone.
What's actually going on in research
Research focuses on preventing cataract formation, improving surgical techniques and lens implants, and developing eye drops that might dissolve cataracts without surgery. Trials also test new lens designs that reduce dependence on reading glasses and address complications like posterior capsule opacification, which can cloud vision months or years after surgery.
Non-surgical lens drops
Several teams are testing eye drops containing lanosterol or other compounds that may dissolve the clumped proteins causing cataracts. Early studies in animals showed promise, and human trials are underway.
Advanced lens implants
New intraocular lenses aim to correct astigmatism, presbyopia, and other vision problems at the same time they replace the cataract. Some use extended depth of focus or adjustable optics.
Femtosecond laser surgery
Laser-assisted cataract surgery uses a femtosecond laser for some surgical steps traditionally done by hand. Studies are measuring whether it improves outcomes or reduces complications compared to standard surgery.
What to know before you search
Eligibility depends on cataract severity, other eye conditions, and general health factors that affect surgery safety.
What types of trials are currently open
- Prevention trials — Testing vitamins, antioxidants, or other interventions to slow cataract formation in people at risk.
- Non-surgical treatment trials — Testing eye drops or other non-surgical approaches that aim to dissolve or reverse cataracts.
- Lens implant trials — Comparing different artificial lens designs to see which provide better vision and fewer side effects after surgery.
- Surgical technique trials — Comparing laser-assisted surgery to traditional methods, or testing new surgical approaches.
- Complication prevention trials — Testing treatments to prevent posterior capsule opacification and other post-surgery complications.
Recently added Cataract trials
Listen to sound therapy during cataract surgery to improve comfort
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of binaural beats on patient satisfaction and intraoperative comfort in patients aged 65 years or older undergoing cataract surgery (phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation) under monitored anesthesia care (MAC) with propofol. Participants are randomly assigned to either a binaural beat group or a control group. The binaural beat group will wear earphones and listen to binaural beats from the time they arrive at the operating room until the surgery is completed. The control group will wear identical earphones but will not receive any auditory stimulus. During the procedure, standard vital signs and the bispectral index (BIS) will be continuously monitored in both groups. Following the surgery, the investigators will assess the patients' overall satisfaction using a 7-point Likert scale. Secondary assessments include patient preference for the anesthesia method, intraoperative pain intensity, sedation level, anxiety level, and quality of life (EQ-VAS) measured by a visual analogue scale. Any surgery-related discomfort or adverse events will also be recorded and compared between the two groups.
Receive sedation during cataract surgery to test an optimal approach
The goal of this prospective, randomized, single-blinded is to learn if there is an ideal sedation protocol in cataract surgery in adults. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the combination of Dexmedetomidine and Propofol affect significantly Ramsay sedation scale, compared to Dexmedetomidine and compared to Propofol? * How does each sedation protocol affect hemodynamics? (Heart rate and blood pressure) * Are respiratory events more common in a certain group? * Is the surgeon's satisfaction similar among groups? * Are adverse effects (bradycardia, hypotension, nausea) more common in a certain group? Researchers will compare 3 sedation protocols : Dexmedetomidine versus Propofol versus the combination of these 2 drugs and to see if one protocol is overall superior to the others. Fentanyl will also be used in all 3 sedation protocols. Participants will : * Receive one of these three protocols * Be operated for one or both eyes * Monitored during the whole surgery and in the recovery room * Be evaluated by the Ramsay sedation scale by a trained Anesthesiologist or CRNA during surgery and in the recovery room Surgeons will be asked about how much they were satisfied.
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