Research progress on antioxidants and protein aggregation inhibitors in cataract prevention and therapy (Review)

Cataracts are primarily caused by aging or gene mutations and are the leading cause of blindness globally. As the older population increases, the number of patients with a cataract is expected to grow rapidly. At present, cataract surgery to replace the lens with an artificial intraocular lens is the principal treatment method. However, surgery has several drawbacks, including economic burdens and complications such as inflammation, xerophthalmia, macular edema and posterior capsular opacification. Thus, developing an effective non-surgical treatment strategy is beneficial to both patients and public health. Mechanistically, cataract formation may be due to various reasons but is primarily initiated and promoted by oxidative stress and is closely associated with crystallin aggregation. In the present review, the current research progress on anti-cataract drugs, including antioxidants and protein aggregation inhibitors is examined. It summarizes strategies for preventing and treating cataract through cell apoptosis and protein aggregation inhibition while discussing their limitations and further prospects.