title: Molecular Genetics of Cataract.
abstract: Lens opacities or cataract(s) represent a universally important cause of visual impairment and blindness. Typically, cataract is acquired with aging as a complex disorder involving environmental and genetic risk factors. Cataract may also be inherited with an early onset either in association with other ocular and/or systemic abnormalities or as an isolated lens phenotype. Here we briefly review recent advances in gene discovery for inherited and age-related forms of cataract that are providing new insights into lens development and aging.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Electronic address: Shiels@vision.wustl.edu.
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Shiels
authors: Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors: J Fielding
authors: JF
authors: Hejtmancik
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics; D002386:Cataract / Q000235:genetics*; D003459:Crystallins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D006801:Humans; D040582:Inheritance Patterns / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D003459:Crystallins
keywords: Age-related; Cataract; Genes; Inherited