Cataracts are the clouding of the eye's natural lens — the most common cause of vision loss worldwide and the most frequently performed surgical procedure. Surgery is highly effective, but research focuses on premium lens options, surgical technique refinement, and — excitingly — drug treatments that might dissolve cataracts without surgery.
What's actually going on in research
Lanosterol and other oxysterol compounds have reversed cataracts in animal models and early human studies, and clinical trials are in progress to determine whether topical application can dissolve lens proteins in people. Premium intraocular lenses — including extended-depth-of-focus and trifocal designs — are being compared in trials for range of vision and patient satisfaction. Laser-assisted cataract surgery is being refined and compared to manual phacoemulsification for precision and outcomes.
Non-surgical cataract dissolution
Lanosterol eye drops and related compounds target the protein aggregates that form cataracts. Early human trials are testing whether regular application can reduce or eliminate cataract cloudiness.
Premium lens comparison
Extended-depth-of-focus, trifocal, and light-adjustable intraocular lenses are being compared in trials for reading vision, distance vision, and glare reduction after surgery.
Laser cataract surgery
Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery is being compared with traditional manual surgery for precision, corneal astigmatism correction, and refractive outcomes.
What to know before you search
Eligibility depends on cataract grade and type, visual acuity level, corneal health, and for drug trials, the early cataract stage most amenable to reversal.
What types of trials are currently open
- Surgical technique trials — Comparing laser-assisted vs. manual cataract surgery and surgical approaches for different cataract types.
- Intraocular lens trials — Evaluating premium monofocal, trifocal, and extended-depth-of-focus lenses for vision quality.
- Drug trials — Testing topical agents to prevent or dissolve early cataracts non-surgically.
- Pediatric cataract trials — Comparing surgical approaches and visual rehabilitation in children with congenital cataracts.
- Prevention trials — Testing UV protection, antioxidant supplements, and lifestyle factors in delaying cataract development.
Recently added Cataracts trials
Effect of Dry Eye Treatment on Corneal Astigmatism Measurements
This prospective single-center study evaluates the effect of dry eye disease and short-term ocular surface treatment on the agreement and repeatability of corneal astigmatism measurements in patients with age-related cataract. Participants undergoing preoperative cataract evaluation are classified into a control group or a dry eye disease group according to ocular surface symptoms and objective tear film findings. All participants undergo ocular surface assessment and repeated corneal measurements using three commonly used devices: IOLMaster 700, Pentacam AXL, and iTrace Prime. Measurements include keratometric corneal astigmatism, total corneal astigmatism, and vector components of astigmatism. Patients with dry eye disease receive 0.3% sodium hyaluronate eye drops four times daily for 2 weeks, after which ocular surface assessment and device measurements are repeated. The primary objective is to determine whether dry eye disease reduces interdevice agreement and test-retest repeatability of corneal astigmatism measurements, and whether short-term ocular surface treatment improves measurement stability. Interdevice agreement is assessed using Bland-Altman analysis, and repeatability is evaluated using within-subject standard deviation, test-retest repeatability, and intraclass correlation coefficient.
Visual and Patient Reported Outcomes With Clareon TruPlus
This is a prospective, single-site, two-surgeon, single-arm, observational study evaluating the Clareon TruPlus IOL. Subjects will be assessed up to 3 months post-operatively. Clinical evaluations will include refractive outcomes, visual acuity, and administration of the IOLSAT Questionnaire.
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