Bendazac is an oxyacetic
acid with anti-inflammatory, antinecrotic, choleretic and antilipidaemic properties, but its principal effect is to inhibit the denaturation of
proteins. The
lysine salt, which is better absorbed than the parent compound after
oral administration, has been evaluated as a treatment for
cataract, a condition which appears to result mainly from the denaturation, aggregation and precipitation of
proteins within the lens. Results from a very small number of preliminary studies using objective photographic and densitometric methods have suggested that oral
bendazac lysine, usually at a dosage of 500 mg 3 times daily, can stabilise the progression of lens opacification in patients with
cataract. Significant improvements in individual and mean visual acuities in treated patients have been reported by several studies, but this parameter is not universally accepted as a reliable index of lens status. Preliminary studies evaluating
bendazac lysine 0.5%
eyedrops have reported comparable results to those obtained with oral treatment. Overall, tolerability of the
drug has been good in studies to date. A dose-related
laxative effect and other gastrointestinal disturbances are the most common adverse effects associated with oral
therapy, and a transient burning sensation is the most commonly reported symptom occurring with
eyedrop application.
Bendazac lysine is one of a number of agents which have been introduced for the management of
cataract. Although the results of preliminary studies have suggested that the
drug may be useful for delaying the progression of
cataract, further clinical studies using proven objective methods are required to fully establish its value in the management of this condition and its long term tolerability.