The corneal infection known as infectious keratitis is the fifth leading cause of blindess in the world and a new treatment may soon be available to treat the vision robbing infection.
While infectious keratitis can affect anyone, contact lens wearers are ten times more likely to develop the infection because contact lenses sit directly on the cornea and trap debris and microbes against the eye.
The new therapy has been developed by VisiRose, an ophthalmic biotechnology company. This therapy utilizes a bioactive synthetic molecule called Rose Bengal (RB) that is activated by light therapy.
Rose Bengal is activated by green light between 500 and 550 naonmeters and creates reactive oxygen species (ROS). The DNA of bacteria, parasites and fungi is damaged by the ROS, which destroys them and prevents any additional growth within the eye. Healthy tissue in the eye is not harmed by the ROS.
