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Effect of photooxidation on the eye lens and role of nutrients in delaying cataract

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Free Radicals and Aging

Part of the book series: EXS ((EXS,volume 62))

Summary

The function of the eye lens is to collect and focus light on the retina. To do so, it must remain clear during the decades of life. Upon aging, lens constituents are damaged and precipitate in opacities called senile cataracts. Laboratory and epidemiologic data indicate that the damage is due in part to light and active forms of oxygen. Antioxidant nutrients — ascorbate, carotenoids, and tocopherol — appear to offer protection against cataract.

Fifty million persons worldwide are blind due to cataract, and, in the U.S., there are 1.2 million cataract surgeries performed at an annual cost (including physician visits) of over $3.2 billion. It has been estimated that a 10-year delay in the development of cataract would eliminate the need for half the surgeries. Since it will not be possible to replace most of the damaged lenses, it is essential to determine the efficacy of supplying adequate levels of antioxidant nutrients early in life to preserve lens function.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research, USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, 711 Washington St., 02111, Boston, MA, USA

    Allen Taylor

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  1. Allen Taylor
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  1. C.N.R.S., Institut Biomédical des Cordeliers, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 15–21, Rue de l’Ecole de Médecine, F-75006, Paris, France

    Ingrid Emerit (Directeur de Recherche) (Directeur de Recherche)

  2. Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, D-501 Richards Building, 19104-6089, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Britton Chance

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Taylor, A. (1992). Effect of photooxidation on the eye lens and role of nutrients in delaying cataract. In: Emerit, I., Chance, B. (eds) Free Radicals and Aging. EXS, vol 62. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-7460-1_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-7460-1_28

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