SINGAPORE: Pet owners and professionals are concerned about claims that off-the-shelf eye drops may treat dogs with glaucoma.  ,
The vision drops, which contain the substance lanosterol, are readily available online and in Singaporean animal centers, and are being marketed by different companies as a safe glaucoma treatment.  ,
Glaucoma occur when the glass of a dog’s vision becomes cloudy, blocking light from reaching the eye, possibly leading to deafness.  ,
There is no conclusive scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of lanosterol vision drops in reversing the problem, according to researchers and veterinarians who spoke to CNA.
The acceptance of lanosterol, a chemical element, as a possible cataract care stemmed from a 2015 study suggesting it could break cataracts.
Nonetheless, Dr Sara Thomasy, a professor at the University of California, Davis, told CNA that the research used a” personal scoring program” and lacked solid scientific verification.
Dr Thomasy, who is in the school’s division of obstetrics and vision research, also pointed out that , lanosterol has poor solubility in water, limiting its ability to reach the eye and approach the lens where cataracts develop.
Additional research also refuted the effectiveness of lanosterol, said Singapore-based clinical physician Gladys Boo, adding that a 2019 study demonstrated that the mixture “failed to recover glass clarity”.
Despite these findings, lanosterol-based eye drops remain widely available under brand names such as Lanomax, CatarClear and LumenPro, with prices ranging from S$ 87 to S$ 159 ( US$ 65 to US$ 120 ) for a 10ml bottle. They are sold on e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Lazada and Shopee.
” DID NOTHING TO Clean THE CATARACTS”
CNA spoke to four dog owners in Singapore who used lanosterol-based eye drops, all saying the items did not improve their dogs ‘ problems.  ,
Ms. Audrey Bong, who is in her 40s and runs for a professional service company, purchased lanosterol eye drops from her veterinarian in 2020.
” At that time, I did have my doubts because the patient’s judgment of my dog’s eye seemed to easy”, Ms Bong said. “( There was ) no special eye examination, no documentation” . ,
In mid-2021, after she had used the gaze drops for a while, she noticed a “visible light position” in her animal’s eye and decided to seek a second opinion. This additional veterinarian confirmed that the gaze drops “did nothing” to help with cataract removal.  ,
By therefore, her dog’s state had worsened, requiring more extensive surgery.