Study: Cataracts Caused by Low Eye Cholesterol

January 26, 2006

Japanese researchers report that low cholesterol levels in the eyes may be responsible for the development of cataracts. Researchers at the Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine discovered this finding, based on animal studies. In rats, mutations of two genes responsible for cholesterol production-lanosterol synthase (Lss) and farnesyl diphosphate farnesyl transferase 1 (Fdft1)-increased the risk of cataracts development.

Compared to healthy rats, those with cataracts and both gene mutations had lower eye cholesterol levels, particularly in the eye lens and cerebral cortex.

The study also discovered that specialized epithelial cells in the eye lens require cholesterol for normal development. In a healthy eye, these epithelial cells form a single thin layer of cells, which maintain the transparency of the eye lens. With cataracts, the epithelial cells are unable to develop normally.

The Japanese team at Shinshu discovered that rats with those genetic mutations and cataracts have damage to the epithelial cells, which failed to develop properly. This indicates that a defect in cholesterol production can contribute to the opacity of eyes affected by cataracts.

Researchers say this finding may have important implications for people taking cholesterol medications or those with deficient cholesterol production.

A cataract is a clouding of the eye lens, which is responsible for focusing light and producing sharp visual images. When old cells die, they can become caught in the capsule that contains the lens, making images look blurred or fuzzy. Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss in people over the age of fifty-five. This condition is also a natural result of the aging process. Special medical procedures have been developed to treat patients with cataracts. Please contact us to learn more.

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