Letters: August 2023

Band keratopathy

Ten years of trying to find a lead medical researcher without success. Yes there have been interested professionals but nothing ever came of these false dawns. My brief research proposal concerns band keratopathy – a modern improved treatment and follows below.

Band keratopathy is a chronic eye condition that, according to a study published in India in 2022, affects 0.33% of the population. It occurs as a result of eye trauma and a range of other metabolic dysfunctions. A simple, non-invasive and continuous treatment based on the daily instillation of eye drops containing an active therapeutic drug will be sought. Calcium phosphate scale will be gradually dissolved away and its further ongoing deposition inhibited.

The active agent will be identified by studying biodegradable aspartate and inulin chemistries and other candidate actives such as phosphocitrate, a powerful calcification inhibitor. The former compound classes are known to be effective inorganic scale inhibitors and removers in oilfied production settings.

The current treatments are invasive, can be damaging, and do not prevent recurrence. A successful new eye drop-based treatment will restore vision in affected individuals, maintain optical clarity, avoid potentially damaging and expensive surgery, and prevent disabling partial sight or blindness.

Ten years on I have run out of new contact ideas. Can anyone help please?

Nevin Stewart FRSC
Guildford, Surrey