Disclaimer: Please note that only your own physician can determine your precise needs, but in order to give you some information these answers are based upon the ‘average person’ and clinical/ published results.
Can-C contains a synthesised formulation of the anti-oxidant carnosine known as n-acetylcarnosine (NAC). NAC is based on the naturally occurring nutrient di-peptide carnosine (a combination of two amino-acids, or protein fragments). It is the key ingredient in Can-C cataract eye drops due to NAC’s potency at ‘mopping up’ free radicals. As the root of tissue damage and accelerated ageing in our bodies, free radicals are the main culprit behind the cataract condition.
Can C eye drops for cataracts contain NAC due to its robust characteristics. This is because carnosine’s ability to tackle free radicals and cataracts is blunted by the natural enzymes in the eye breaking carnosine down. However, NAC is highly resistant to this breakdown which, combined with the slow release characteristics of Can-C n-acetylcarnosine eye drops, makes them highly effective in the healing of cataracts.
Can-C carnosine eye drops also tackle the bodily process of glycation (also known as cross-linking) – another key factor behind ageing and the development of cataracts. This is where glucose leads to changes and a hardening of tissues over time. Can-C cataract eye drops deliver a powerful anti-oxidant boost to the eye – counteracting the natural decline of anti-oxidants as we grow older – to protect the eye lens proteins from free-radical induced deterioration.
The breakthrough behind Can-C and the introduction of n-acetylcarnosine eye drops took place in the early 1990s, with landmark research by the bio-physicist Dr Mark Babizhayev and a Russian research team.
Human trials on cataract sufferers, involving a twice daily dose of NAC formulated drops over a period of six months, produced remarkable results. The research revealed that:
•88.9 per cent of patients had improved glare sensitivity (which is a general decline in the sharpness of objects and surroundings –things literally becoming a bit fuzzy around the edges);
•90 per cent reported improved visual acuity – clearer and sharper vision;
•Perhaps most significantly, in that cataracts are characterised by a clouding of the eye lens, 41 per cent of patients experienced a significant improvement in lens ‘transmissivity’.
And while the patients were taking the NAC carnosine eye drops, Dr Babizhayev noted that there was no recurrence of cataract development. He further reported that drug tolerance was good – there were no side effects, based on the dosage of 1% NAC.
Age-related or ‘senile’ cataract is a progressive eye condition affecting the lens of the eye. As we get older, the lens may become hard, opaque and cloudy. This process affects the amount of light which reaches the inside of our eye – and in turn, the quality of our vision.
If left alone, cataracts lead to sight loss and eventual blindness. A staggering number of people lose their sight to cataracts: there are 17 million worldwide, with 28,000 new cases reported every day.
Cataracts most commonly affect older people. In the US, for example, around 25% of people aged over 65 encounter a significant loss of vision due to cataracts. And this rises to 50% for people over the age of 80.
Surgery is often sought as a solution, and cataract removal is widely recognized as one of the safest operations in the world today.
But the operation does carry risks. In the US, around 30 to 50% of patients undergoing cataract removal require further laser treatment within two years. And of the 1.35 million people in the States who have the operation every year, around 2% (approximately 27,000 people) develop serious complications following cataract surgery.
As we’ve discovered, tissue-damaging free radicals are a key factor behind the development of cataracts. This is compounded by a process known as glycation, where our tissues react with the glucose in our bodies to alter and stiffen over time. Together, free radicals and glycation create a ‘double whammy’ effect. They allow the proteins in our eyes to bind together, developing a film that blocks light and impairs vision.
Can-C’s powerful N-acetylcarnosine (NAC) compound has been proven to reduce both free radical and glycation development – one of the reasons it has been heralded as a breakthrough in the healing of cataracts and other degenerative eye conditions.
Cataracts are inextricably linked with the ageing process. As we grow older, our eye lenses have a tendency to become hard, opaque and cloudy. Less light reaching the center of the eye affects our vision and over time, can result in sight loss and eventual blindness.
Cataracts are a global concern – around 3.8 million people in India alone lose their sight to the condition every year, with an estimated 5 million worldwide.
Cataract surgery is a widely used and safe solution. In fact there are more than one million cataract operations each year in the US alone.
While a trusted and sound solution, it is still, nonetheless, a surgical procedure – carrying with it inherent risks (however small). For example in the United States 30% to 50% of all patients that have cataract surgery, develop opacification of the posterior lens capsule and require further laser treatment.
Aside from this the potential costs of surgery are high (around $3500 per eye for cataract surgery in the US).
Can-C’s formula is the one perfected and patented by Dr Babizhayev and his team – who tried, tested and rejected many other forms of carnosine during their extensive research.
Only Can-C contains these precise formulations of n-acetylcarosine and other key ingredients, making it such a powerful ally in the non-surgical, non-invasive reversal of cataracts.
N-acetylcarnosine eye-drops have been shown to have measurable affects within only 1-month of use. However, it is recommended that for maximum efficacy, that administration be continued for a period not less than 3-5 months. In addition, the drops’ effectiveness is increased the sooner they are used after a cataract is detected.
Also, considering that senile cataracts are an on-going aging disorder. N-acetylcarnosine may be required on a regular basis to help maintain the eye’s natural anti-oxidant defenses.
We do not recommend that the Can-C™ eye-drops are combined with lutein (unless a patient has a cataract associated with a retinal disorder), this is because lutein appears to block the receptor sites and may lower the efficacy of the results. You should stop taking lutein for at least the first 6 months but that after this period they may be started again. This is because Can-C does the majority of its restorative work in that period and thereafter it is maintenance, thus a reduced efficacy is not so essential.
The same is true for zeaxanthin; however we are not aware of contraindications with astaxanthin.
The only known contraindication is with lutein competing with the same receptors in the eye as the n-acetylcarnosine. This does not mean that the combined intake of lutein with use of Can-C Eye drops would invalidate the effectiveness, but it’s efficacy could be reduced which may mean a longer treatment time.
To date there have been no noted contraindications or side effects noted with the use of other eye-drops combined with Can-C™, but naturally as there are so many versions, not all eye-drops have been tested along with the same. Dr. Mark Babizayev (the inventor of the technology) has stated that beta blocker eye-drops used for glaucoma may actually have additional benefit when combined with Can-C to help further reduce the intraocular pressure.
Can-C has been sold since 2001 and in that time has helped thousands of people cure their senile cataracts without painful surgery. In fact it is estimated that there have been 50,000 documented patient cases of Can-C use.
It is Dr. Babizhayev’s assertion that certain substances, including vitamins A and E inhibit the conversion process of the NAC into L-carnosine INSIDE the aqueous humor of the eye. He does not endorse them – rather the opposite (at least when used topically, however if vitamin A or E are taken orally there is no contraindication).
It is interesting to note that the copycat products have now stopped adding A and E to their formula, they simply do not understand how this technology performs.
Can-C™ is packaged for relief of dry eyes; it is not an approved drug to ‘treat cataracts’ in the eyes of the FDA. The suggestion refers to the uses and clinical trials that the Russians have performed.
Can-C is not approved as a drug by the FDA because no submission has been made to do so, the requirements for drug approval are so costly that a molecule patent is required beforehand, as Can-C is a natural product, it is extremely difficult to obtain a patent for a natural molecule and hence the process doesn’t get started.
Firstly, Can-C™ is the original eye-drop that mimics the research by the Russians, it is also the only version approved and patented by Innovative Vision Products (IVP), who conducted those clinical trials.
The source of the N-acetylcarnosine in Can-C™ is unique. It is made to a very specific purity in Japan and is the one used in the clinical trials. This is because the Russians found that only a specific purity value was efficacious, this source is only available in Can-C.
There are no animal ingredients in Can-C eye drops, all are 100% plant based; therefore the product is suitable for both vegetarians and vegans.
Further studies have demonstrated the wider benefits of Can-C eye drops. A Russian study of patients aged 48 to 60, with no cataract problems but varying degrees of eye impairment – revealed significant benefits through use of the NAC drops. Eye tiredness was eliminated and vision boosted, while the subjects reported the drops ‘brightened’ and ‘relaxed’ their eyes.
And although information has yet to be published on other conditions, Can-C’s N-acetylcarnosine formula could also help with a variety of eye conditions including:
*Presbyopia (an age-related condition, where we lose the ability to focus on near objects)
*Open-angle primary glaucoma (in combination with beta-blockers)
*Corneal disorders
*Computer vision syndrome
*Eye strain
*Ocular inflammation
*Blurred vision
*Dry eye syndrome
*Retinal diseases
*Vitreous opacities and lesions (a degenerative eye condition which may include spots or ‘floaters’ in the eye affecting vision).
*Complications caused by diabetes mellitus and other systemic diseases
*Contact lens problems and enhanced comfort (in particular, the NAC formulation is believed to reduce the build up of lactic acid in the eye – boosting comfort and enabling the lens to be left in the eye for longer).
We are finding that in some cases that the cataract after reversal is approximately the same size or in some cases is perceived as larger. This may be because the action of the drops is upon the crystallins within the lens, effectively making them clearer, whilst not perhaps reducing the amount/ size of the cataract.
Normally most patients will see an improvement of glare sensitivity (usually stated as improvements to night driving), then enhanced color perception and of course the ability to read additional lines on an eye chart, a clear sign of improving eye sight.
Effectively it can take several more months (in some cases) to actually reduce the size of the cataract, please note that the addition of Can-C™ Plus, the new oral formula, can be taken alongside the eye-drops to help speed up this process.
Yes, in fact Dr. Babizayev recommends them for diabetic retinopathy.
Yes! Although it will not affect the replacement lens as that is made of plastic, however Can-C™ can support the eye in other ways to ensure that other deterioration is avoided or at least delayed. Many patients who are using Can-C™ in this way, as there is no deterioration to the plastic of the artificial lens and Can-C’s actions can help to maintain other eye structures – in our opinion its use is still worthy in such cases.
Yes in fact they can benefit contact lens wearing in 2 ways, firstly they inhibit the accumulation of lactic acid, thereby reducing the pain associated with contacts and secondly the lubricants in Can-C™ make wearing the contacts more comfortable.
One thing we would recommend is that contacts be removed as normal, the eye washed with cold water and gently dabbed dry and then apply the Can-C™ and wait 15-minutes (this gives the eye-drop time to pass through the membranes and enter the eye) before replacing the contact lens as normal. Note that although this is not an essential requirement, it may be beneficial to do so.
The Ph of Can-C™ has been changed from early setting of 6.5 to 6.8. Whilst technically there is a minute reduction in the uptake of the n-acetylcarnosine this has not in any way reduced the efficacy of Can-C eye-drops. It just means that Can-C is a much more comfortable product to use compared to other NAC containing products on the market, reducing the potential of stinging effects from 1 in 7 persons to 1 in 700 persons, so Can-C is less likely to generate this uncomfortable side effect than other copycat products.
Yes, Can-C™ has been effectively tested on dogs and rabbits. In fact because these animals lack an enzyme called carnosinase (which is found in humans) the drops actually work much faster. This is because the lack of carnosinase means that more of the active ingredient enters the eye and therefore more of the active ingredient is delivered. The only drawback is that administering the drops to animals may mean more loss as the animal blinks or shakes it head etc. But the bottom line is that Can-C is known to improve the dog’s vision when applied daily for several weeks.
Can-C™ is stable for lengthy periods at room temperature, although at home we recommend that you keep them in the warmest part of the fridge (i.e. the door). This is especially true with opened bottle’s which should be discarded 28 days after opening (but if you are using the drops every day as recommended the bottle will be empty after 14 days).
The lens itself is inside the eye, floating in a liquid called the aqueous humor, the outer part of the eye (the part you can touch) normally inhibits absorption, but Can-C™ has been specially designed to pass through the outer membranes and deliver carnosine into the fluid of the eye, thus making contact with the lens and helping to prevent glycosylation, the process that clouds the crystallins in the lens etc.
All the current clinical trial support that in the majority of cases that Can-C™ lowers the intraocular pressure, we have not heard reports of increased pressure to date. Officially the trials have been conducted in cataracts, specifically senile cataracts, however as has been made clear in Dr. Marios Kyriazis book ‘the cataract cure, the story of n-acetylcarnosine’ there have been a number of other noted improvements including some reduction in the intraocular pressure of the eye and we have received a number of statements to that affect also.
Each box contains two 5ml vials and will last for approximately 3 weeks if applying in both eyes. The recommended dosage is two drops into each eye twice daily.
Each 5ml vial contains approximately 80 drops.
Two drops of Can-C into the affected eye twice daily is the ideal. There should be no added benefit in exceeding this amount. You may wish to continue occasional use of N-acetylcarnosine eye-drops after the reduction/reversal of the cataract to prevent any re-occurrence.
Yes, they can be used for general eye health. In addition, Can-C eye drops will help to protect against all sorts of eye troubles by increasing the eye’s anti-oxidant shield. For general eye health you can use the drops twice daily by putting one drop in each eye.
If you’re using the drops like this, one package should last about one month.
N-acetylcarnosine eye-drops have been shown to have measurable effects within only 1 month of use. However, for maximum efficacy it is recommended that that administration be continued for a period not less than 3-5 months. In addition, the drops’ effectiveness is increased the sooner they are used after a cataract is detected.
Considering that senile cataracts are an on-going aging disorder, N-acetylcarnosine may be required on a regular basis to help maintain the eye’s natural anti-oxidant defenses.
Open-angle primary glaucoma
Can-C eye-drops have been recommended by the inventors (IVP) and Dr. Mark Babizhayev has suggested that it is a useful adjunct in the condition of open angle glaucoma. Although not proven, it is believed that the anti-glycosylation properties of Can-C reduce the accumulation of proteins from around the schlemm canal (the valve in the eye), thus over time precipitating a release of pressure in the eye by allowing more waste materials to pass through into the bloodstream.
Floaters
We don’t have any clinical evidence for floaters. Can-C eye-drops have been successful in a number of other applications– other than cataract, but unfortunately floater’s is not one of them.
Subcapsular cataracts
At present the clinical trials have focused on cataracts of the senile type – perhaps because they are the most common. At present there is anecdotal evidence to support role in other cataracts and aging eye disorders, perhaps because the delivery of carnosine is a natural defense mechanism inside the eye. Dr. Babizayev, the inventor of the technology does predispose that Can-C™ will be effective for other cataracts; details have been noted inside the book ‘the cataract cure’ by Marios Kyriazis, M.D.
It is possible that some damage will have occurred and we do not recommend that the product be frozen. The issue may be the loss of some efficacy. However, it does not mean that the properties of the product are completely lost.
Extensive research by Can-C pioneer Dr. Mark Babizhayev, respected for his work at the Helmoltz Research Institute for Eye Diseases in Moscow, began in 1991.
Landmark research on a group of Russian patients, with an average age of 65 and suffering from age-related cataract, cantered on the use of NAC eye drops with a one percent concentration. The patients applied the drops into their eyes twice daily, for a period of six months.
The study found:
- 41% of patients experienced a significant improvement in the ‘transmissivity’ of their lens – clouding had been reduced
- 90% reported improved and sharper vision.
- 89% showed enhanced glare sensitivity.
- And the patients reported few side effects.
Commenting on the research, Dr. Babizhayev said: “For most patients treated, drug tolerance was good and no side effects were specifically associated with the application of 1 percent NAC. What is more, no recurrence of cataract development occurred during the period of NAC application.”
Synergistic combination of ingredients in Can C eye drops and Can C Plus capsules makes both the drops and the capsules even more beneficial to the eyes.
When taken consistently with Can-C eye drops, Can-C Plus increases the length of time that the Can-C eye drops remain active in the eye, by preventing and slowing the breakdown of carnosine once it has been topically delivered. This sustaining action greatly improves free radical protection and further reduces the oxidative environment within the eye allowing for an accelerated healing response.
Can-C eye drops have proven to be highly effective eye protection on their own and are a stand-alone product for the reversal of many ocular conditions. Can-C Plus has been made available as a complimentary supplement for those who want to maximize their effort with the use of Can-C eye drops. In addition, those who have more mature cataract with measurably diminished vision will greatly optimize their effort by taking Can-C Plus in addition to their applications of Can-C eye-drops.
Can-C Plus capsules are made with N-acetylcysteine as the main ingredient. N-acetylcysteine is a natural and powerful antioxidant that can fight against many eye related disorders. By combatting against eye conditions, it relieves the eye from unnecessary strain and can improve the function of the aging eye.
Can C Plus helps to enhance free radical protection and reduce oxidative substances in the eye. It is an antioxidant that has been formulated to be used with Can-C eye drops to help support their effectiveness.