NEI Study Makes Connection between Sun and Cataract

A new study funded partially by National Eye Institute explains how years of chronic sunlight exposure can increase the risk of cataract as a result of oxidation stress. Oxidative stress refers to harmful chemical reactions that can occur when cells consume oxygen and other fuels to produce energy. It's an unfortunate consequence of living, but it's also considered a major contributor to normal aging and age-related diseases-including cataract formation in the lens. The new study, led by researchers at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, suggests that UV light may provide an answer. It shows that UV light can damage lens proteins in a distinct way (called glycation)  typically seen in cataract and in cells damaged by oxidative stress. In other words, UV light can substitute for oxygen to trigger harmful oxidative reactions in the lens. Read more.