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Ultraviolet Radiation and Cataract—A ReviewDepartment of Hygiene and Public Health, Teikyo University School of Medicine, 2-11-1, Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173, Japan
Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Teikyo University School of Medicine, 2-11-1, Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173, Japan Senile cataract has become a serious public health problem as the elderly population is increasing worldwide. As lens with dark iris is reported to have a higher prevalence of cataract, public health concern about cataract in Asia is a bigger issue. Among factors assumed to be involved in the pathogenesis of cataract, ultraviolet radiation (UV) has received much attention in accordance with the recent problem of ozone column depletion. It has been agreed that UV induces cataract in animal and biochemical experiments. However, in epidemiological studies, such agreement has not been reached. There are many factors that should be considered and controlled when investigating the association between cataract and UV. In this review, we summarize major findings obtained so far on the relationship between UV and cataract, and we discuss important factors that may be the cause of disagreement in epidemiological studies. We also point out some of the research foci which should be clarified and propose protective measures against UV induced cataract.
Key Words: Ultraviolet radiation ozone column depletion cortical cataract nuclear cataract posterior subcapsular cataract
Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, Vol. 10, No. 2,
57-63 (1998) |
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