Are Lanosterol Eye Drops Safe for Dogs? Facts & Benefits

Studies have shown that lanosterol could effectively shrink and dissolve cataracts. There are even claims that lanosterol eye drops are effective on both humans and animals. That’s why, as a pet owner, it’s common to wonder whether lanosterol eye drops are safe as a cataract treatment for dogs. 

Lanosterol eye drops are safe to be used on dogs and other animals. Aside from slight stinging when applied, lanosterol eye drops cause no side effects on dogs. Lanosterol eye drops are considered a promising non-surgical cure for canine cataracts, though more research is needed.

This article will discuss the use of lanosterol eye drops in detail, their effectiveness in curing canine cataracts, and whether they’re a viable alternative to cataract surgery. I’ll also go over other treatment options and how you can improve your dog’s quality of life even when it has cataracts. 

What Are Lanosterol Eye Drops?

Lanosterol eye drops are liquid drops that can prevent and combat cataracts. Their lanosterol content sets them apart from other eye drops on the market. 

Lanosterol is a naturally produced steroid found in all animals. In 2005, lanosterol was identified as one of the critical components in maintaining eye lens clarity. Furthermore, in 2015, the chemical significantly reduced cataracts in dogs. Lastly, a 2018 study showed that lanosterol usage effectively improves eye lens clarity in individuals with cloudy lenses. 

Since lanosterol can be found in all animals, these eye drops can be used safely on humans and all kinds of animals. Besides, compared to surgery, lanosterol eye drops are far less invasive. Furthermore, they’re also way more affordable and accessible. 

With all that in mind, it’s no wonder that people are starting to look at lanosterol eye drops as a promising cataract treatment, both for themselves and for their pets. 

How Do Lanosterol Eye Drops Work?

Lanosterol eye drops work by detangling the protein aggregations that cause the eye lens to become cloudy. Additionally, scientists believe that lanosterol helps prevent any future breakdown and clumping of proteins in the eye lens. That said, the exact mechanism is not yet known. 

When used on the eye, the drops deliver a small amount of lanosterol to detangle parts of the lens’ cataracts. So, if used regularly, these eye drops can offset the progression of cataracts, slowing it down. 

What Are the Therapeutic Effects of Lanosterol Eye Drops?

The therapeutic effects of lanosterol eye drops may vary depending on the cataracts' size, type, and progression. However, it is believed that lanosterol eye drops can relieve cataracts.

When used regularly, the lanosterol may slowly shrink the size of cataracts and keep new cataracts from forming. Some studies claim that lanosterol can improve lens transparency and prevent eyesight from worsening. 

That said, cataracts can be caused by various issues, such as eye trauma and diabetes. While lanosterol eye drops may help, the treatment may not be effective until the underlying condition has been treated. 

Cataracts in Dogs

Dogs can develop cataracts the same way that humans do. A cataract forms when there are changes to the proteins or the water balance in the lens, resulting in a cloudy or opaque film covering the eye's lens. This film blocks light from entering the lens, impairing your dog’s vision. 

Canine cataracts can affect dogs of all ages. In dogs, canine cataracts are hereditary or caused by genetic impairments. Meanwhile, injuries and other underlying health issues are the most common causes of canine cataracts in older dogs. 

When left untreated, canine cataracts can lead to vision loss. That’s why it’s essential to recognize and treat canine cataracts as early as possible. In this section, I’ll discuss canine cataract symptoms, how the condition affects your dog’s life, and what you can do about it. 

How To Know If Your Dog Has Cataracts?

Here are some common symptoms of canine cataracts: 

• Cloudy or opaque film covering the pupils 
• Changes in eye color 
• Changes in pupil size or shape 
• Watery eyes 
• Rubbing or scratching the eyes often 
• Signs of vision impairment, like sniffing around more often, unsure footing, bumping into furniture, reluctance to climb or jump, etc. 

Contact a vet if you notice any of these symptoms in your dog. Avoid diagnosing your dog and deciding on the treatment by yourself. Your vet will check your dog’s eyes using a light and a variety of other tests to see whether your dog has cataracts or not. 

Are Cloudy Eyes Always a Sign of Cataracts?

While many assume that cloudy eyes are a tell-tale sign of cataracts, it’s not always the case. For dogs, cloudiness may also be a natural part of aging. White, milky lenses can also be a symptom of various eye problems, such as glaucoma and eye ulcer. 

To the untrained and naked eye, distinguishing between what’s normal and what isn’t can be tricky. Determining what’s causing your dog’s eyes to become cloudy is even more difficult. 

Keep in mind that it’s always best to contact your vet if you notice any changes in your dog’s eyes. They can run various tests and examinations to determine the problem and the best course of treatment for your dog. 

Will Canine Cataracts Cause Your Dog To Go Blind?

With canine cataracts, there’s always a possibility of your dog going blind as the condition progresses, especially if left untreated. Generally, the more area the cataract covers, the more it impairs the affected eye’s vision. 

Based on its progression, cataracts can be divided into four categories: 

• Incipient: An incipient cataract is usually so small and mild that it often goes undiagnosed. At this stage, the cataract covers less than 15% of the eye lens and doesn’t cause any visual deficit. 

• Immature: The cataract covers more than 15% of the lens at the immature stage. It can also involve multiple layers or areas of the lens. The cataract will start to cause mild visual impairment. 

• Mature: When the cataract matures, it covers the entire lens, to the point where the retina cannot be seen during an eye examination. A dog will experience significant vision loss at this stage, leading to near blindness. 

• Hypermature: At the hypermature stage, the cataract has become so bad that it deforms the lens. The lens begins to shrink and wrinkle, resulting in inflammation. Total blindness is inevitable at this stage. 

Are Cataracts Painful for a Dog?

You’d be glad to know that, thankfully, the cataract itself is not painful for dogs. However, if not treated properly, they can progress and cause other eye problems to arise, such as inflammation and glaucoma. 

It’s those problems that you have to worry about. Inflammation and glaucoma can cause a lot of pain for your dog. With that in mind, it’s best to treat your dog as early as possible to prevent cataracts from progressing. 

What Can You Do When Your Dog Has Cataracts?

Knowing all this, what can you do when your dog suffers from cataracts? Once the condition has been confirmed, you can discuss the best course of action with your vet. 

You might also need to make changes around the house to accommodate your dog’s needs. As the cataract progresses, your dog might experience a gradual vision loss. This can cause disorientation and confusion. 

Thankfully, your dog can still rely on its other senses. You can help your dog get used to its condition by placing various sensory cues around the house. For example: 

• Wind chimes by the door 
• Different textured rugs in separate rooms and near the stairs 
• Different fragrances in each room 

This way, they can still navigate their surroundings based on other cues, such as smell and texture, and not just vision. 

Canine Cataract Treatments

Cataract surgery is one of the most common treatments. However, since it’s a very invasive procedure, vets will only recommend cataract surgery if your dog’s vision is significantly impaired. Moreover, certain additional problems, such as glaucoma, dry eyes, and inflammation, can make the surgery riskier.

Furthermore, canine cataract surgery can be costly. The surgery alone can cost you more than $5,000 per eye, not to mention the cost of post-surgery care. While surgery can restore your dog’s vision, it might not be the most accessible option. 

If your dog’s cataracts are still mild or surgery is not a viable option, your vet may recommend other treatments, such as using lanosterol eye drops. If another underlying health issue causes the cataract, the vet might suggest treating that condition first. 

Can Cataracts in Dogs Be Cured With Lanosterol Eye Drops?

In some cases, Lanosterol eye drops may reduce cataracts in dogs, but experts disagree. More research is needed to reach a conclusion.

Expert opinions vary. It cannot be said for sure that lanosterol eye drops can cure cataracts in dogs. Some believe that it can significantly reverse cataract progression, while others claim it has little to no effect on cataracts. More research and evidence are needed to determine whether lanosterol can be a viable treatment for cataracts. 

Does this mean that you shouldn’t use lanosterol eye drops? Not at all! Lanosterol eye drops can still offer a variety of benefits for your dog. 

Benefits of Using Lanosterol Eye Drops for Canine Cataracts

It’s widely believed that lanosterol eye drops cannot fully eliminate canine cataracts. At least, not yet, since the advancement of science and technology has not reached that state yet. However, your dog can still benefit from using lanosterol eye drops. 

To start, they can prevent cataracts from forming in the first place. Some dogs are more susceptible to cataracts than others. In that situation, vets may recommend using lanosterol eye drops as a preventive measure. 

Lanosterol eye drops can also slow down cataracts progression. While they may not be able to fully reverse the effects of cataracts on your dog’s eyes, these topical eye drops can prevent the condition from getting worse. 

Additionally, while anecdotes are not a substitute for proper, peer-reviewed studies, many pet owners have sung praises for lanosterol eye drops. Many pet owners claim that the eye drops managed to help brighten their dogs’ eyes within a few weeks. 

There’s no reason why you shouldn’t try lanosterol eye drops to cure your dog’s cataracts. Just remember to consult your veterinarian first before starting the treatment. 

Are There Any Side Effects?

Lanosterol eye drops have no side effects when used on dogs. As mentioned earlier, lanosterol is commonly found in all animals, so it’s unlikely to cause any adverse reactions. 

That said, lanosterol eye drops can cause a slight stinging sensation when administered. This shouldn’t be a cause of concern, as the sting will disappear after a few moments. 

Using Lanosterol Eye Drops On Dogs

If you’re interested in using lanosterol eye drops on your dog, you should consult your vet first. Also, if your dog is using other types of eye drops, check with your vet to see if they can be used together. 

Additionally, make sure to choose the right lanosterol eye drops for your dog. Not all lanosterol eye drops on the market are effective. The lanosterol molecules cannot correctly enter the eye lens in some products, rendering the treatment ineffective. 

That’s why you must only use trusted and recommended lanosterol eye drops, such as our Advanced Lanosterol Solution + NAC. Made using advanced, high-end automated manufacturing processes, it’s one of the best lanosterol eye drops you can get for your dog. 

The dosage may differ based on factors such as: 

• The dog’s size 
• The cataract’s size 
• The cataract’s severity
• The eye drop brand 

Always read the instruction guide and consult your vet before administering the eye drops. 

Final Thoughts

Lanosterol eye drops are a safe cataract treatment for dogs. Other than a slight stinging sensation when applied, lanosterol eye drops are unlikely to cause any harm in dogs. 

That said, lanosterol eye drops may not cure canine cataracts fully. For now, surgery is still the best treatment. 

While you cannot rely on eye drops to restore your dog’s vision, they might still be able to provide some relief and prevent new cataracts from forming.

Sources

• Petful: What You Need to Know About Cataracts in Dogs
• Harvard University SITN: Can Cataracts Be Cured With a Simple Eye Drop?
• Verywell Health: Eye Drops for Cataracts
• Best Friends Resources: Cataracts in Dogs: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment
• Indy Animal Eye Clinic: Cataract – Canine
• Fetch by WebMD: Cataracts in Dogs
• VCA Animal Hospitals: Cataracts in Dogs
• RehabVet: Cataracts in Dogs
• American Kennel Club: Cloudy Eyes in Dogs
• Preventive Vet: Cloudy Eyes – Not Always Cataracts 
• Royal Veterinary College - University of London: Cataract surgery
• Cell.com: Lord of the rings – the mechanism for oxidosqualene:lanosterol cyclase becomes crystal clear
• Animal Emergency & Referral Associates: Signs Your Pet May Have Glaucoma or Cataracts
• PetMD: Cataracts in Dogs: Everything You Need to Know
• NCBI: Journal of Ophthalmology: Lanosterol Synthase Pathway Alleviates Lens Opacity in Age-Related Cortical Cataract
• PubMed: Lanosterol reverses protein aggregation in cataracts