TY - JOUR
T1 - Genetic origins of cataract
AU - Shiels, Alan
AU - Hejtmancik, J. Fielding
PY - 2007/2
Y1 - 2007/2
N2 - Cataract, which can be defined as any opacity of the crystalline lens, results when the refractive index of the lens varies significantly over distances approximating the wavelength of the transmitted light.1 This variation in the refractive index can result from changes in lens cell structure, changes in lens protein constituents, or both.2 Cataracts are generally associated with breakdown of the lens microarchitecture. Vacuole formation can cause large fluctuations in optical density, resulting in light scattering. Light scattering and opacity also can occur if there are significant concentrations of high-molecular-weight protein aggregates, roughly 0.1 nm or more in size. The short-range, ordered packing of the crystallins, which make up more than 90% of soluble lens proteins, is important for the maintenance of lens crystallins in a homogeneous phase.
AB - Cataract, which can be defined as any opacity of the crystalline lens, results when the refractive index of the lens varies significantly over distances approximating the wavelength of the transmitted light.1 This variation in the refractive index can result from changes in lens cell structure, changes in lens protein constituents, or both.2 Cataracts are generally associated with breakdown of the lens microarchitecture. Vacuole formation can cause large fluctuations in optical density, resulting in light scattering. Light scattering and opacity also can occur if there are significant concentrations of high-molecular-weight protein aggregates, roughly 0.1 nm or more in size. The short-range, ordered packing of the crystallins, which make up more than 90% of soluble lens proteins, is important for the maintenance of lens crystallins in a homogeneous phase.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33846944686&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1001/archopht.125.2.165
DO - 10.1001/archopht.125.2.165
M3 - Review article
C2 - 17296892
AN - SCOPUS:33846944686
VL - 125
SP - 165
EP - 173
JO - Archives of Ophthalmology
JF - Archives of Ophthalmology
SN - 0003-9950
IS - 2
ER -