Prevention and reversal of galactose cataract in rats with topical Sorbinil.

Rats fed a 50% galactose diet were treated topically in one eye with 1% Sorbinil . The eye treated with Sorbinil remained clear during the following 4-week period. Unexpectedly, the lens of the untreated eye also maintained transparency. Histologically both lenses remained normal. Moreover, the reduced dulcitol levels in the lenses of both eyes were identical. These findings suggest that the effect of topically administered Sorbinil in galactosemic rats was mainly systemic rather than local. Confirmation of this came from the observations that the extent of inhibition of polyol synthesis in these rats was found to be similar in the sciatic nerve, blood, and lens. A reversal of the galactose cataracts also was affected by Sorbinil eye drop treatment.