NUS Scientists Develop Spinach Eye Drops That Cut Tear Oxidants 95% in Dry Eye Tests
Updated
Updated · ScienceAlert · May 21
NUS Scientists Develop Spinach Eye Drops That Cut Tear Oxidants 95% in Dry Eye Tests
6 articles · Updated · ScienceAlert · May 21
Spinach-derived LEAF eye drops generated protective NADPH in lab-grown human eye cells and dry-eye mice under ambient light, easing oxidative stress tied to the disease.
Within 30 minutes of light exposure, the treatment reduced reactive oxygen species and shifted corneal immune cells back to an anti-inflammatory state.
Patient tear samples also responded: LEAF cut harmful oxidants sharply, including a 95% drop in hydrogen peroxide, showing effects both inside and outside eye cells.
In mice dosed twice daily for 5 days, LEAF outperformed Restasis, though the particles now lose potency after a few hours as they degrade in eye cells.
Dry eye affects more than 1 billion people, and NUS researchers said clinical-trial preparations are underway while they explore longer-lasting formulations and other light-exposed inflammatory diseases.
The revolutionary light-powered eye drop fades in hours. What breakthrough is needed to make its healing effects last?
If spinach can power human eyes, what are the unforeseen risks of merging plant and human biology?
A cheap spinach-based cure outperforms pricey drugs. Can it overcome patent and regulatory hurdles to reach patients?
PhotosynthesEYES: Spinach-Derived Eye Drops from NUS Deliver 20x NADPH Surge in Preclinical Dry Eye Disease Models
Overview
The National University of Singapore has introduced LEAF technology, a novel eye drop therapy announced in 2026 to combat dry eye disease. This non-invasive treatment uses nanoscale thylakoid grana particles extracted from spinach leaves, which are engineered for delivery via eye drops. Once applied, these plant-derived particles enable human corneal cells to harness ambient light and produce NADPH, a vital antioxidant. By empowering the eye’s own cells to generate this protective compound, LEAF leverages the natural photosynthetic abilities of spinach to restore ocular health and offers a promising new approach to eye care.