Biomaterial Database

Environmental near-UV radiation and cataracts. 1995

S Zigman

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentisty, New York, USA.

This report compares sunlight UV-A and UV-B fluxes in the Northeastern United States that reach the crystalline lens with thresholds that cause lens damage. The fluxes of UV-A and UV-B radiation that reach earth to penetrate the cornea and to reach the lens were calculated. Ten hours of continuous UV-A exposure or 23 min of UV-B would exceed the rabbit cornea threshold for photokeratitis. The lens threshold would be reached by 26 h of UV-A or 245 h of UV-B continuous exposure. The sequence of UV-induced damage follows: (1) UV-B photokeratitis; (2) UV-A photokeratitis; (3) UV-A lens damage; and (4) UV-B lens damage.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007908	Lens, Crystalline	A transparent, biconvex structure of the EYE, enclosed in a capsule and situated behind the IRIS and in front of the vitreous humor (VITREOUS BODY). It is slightly overlapped at its margin by the ciliary processes. Adaptation by the CILIARY BODY is crucial for OCULAR ACCOMMODATION.	Eye Lens,Lens, Eye,Crystalline Lens
D011817	Rabbits	A burrowing plant-eating mammal with hind limbs that are longer than its fore limbs. It belongs to the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, and in contrast to hares, possesses 22 instead of 24 pairs of chromosomes.	Belgian Hare,New Zealand Rabbit,New Zealand Rabbits,New Zealand White Rabbit,Rabbit,Rabbit, Domestic,Chinchilla Rabbits,NZW Rabbits,New Zealand White Rabbits,Oryctolagus cuniculus,Chinchilla Rabbit,Domestic Rabbit,Domestic Rabbits,Hare, Belgian,NZW Rabbit,Rabbit, Chinchilla,Rabbit, NZW,Rabbit, New Zealand,Rabbits, Chinchilla,Rabbits, Domestic,Rabbits, NZW,Rabbits, New Zealand,Zealand Rabbit, New,Zealand Rabbits, New,cuniculus, Oryctolagus
D011832	Radiation Injuries	Harmful effects of non-experimental exposure to ionizing or non-ionizing radiation in VERTEBRATES.	Radiation Sickness,Radiation Syndrome,Injuries, Radiation,Injury, Radiation,Radiation Injury,Radiation Sicknesses,Radiation Syndromes,Sickness, Radiation,Sicknesses, Radiation,Syndrome, Radiation,Syndromes, Radiation
D011833	Radiation Injuries, Experimental	Experimentally produced harmful effects of ionizing or non-ionizing RADIATION in CHORDATA animals.	Experimental Radiation Injuries,Injuries, Experimental Radiation,Experimental Radiation Injury,Radiation Injury, Experimental
D002386	Cataract	Partial or complete opacity on or in the lens or capsule of one or both eyes, impairing vision or causing blindness. The many kinds of cataract are classified by their morphology (size, shape, location) or etiology (cause and time of occurrence). (Dorland, 27th ed)	Cataract, Membranous,Lens Opacities,Pseudoaphakia,Cataracts,Cataracts, Membranous,Lens Opacity,Membranous Cataract,Membranous Cataracts,Opacities, Lens,Opacity, Lens,Pseudoaphakias
D003315	Cornea	The transparent anterior portion of the fibrous coat of the eye consisting of five layers: stratified squamous CORNEAL EPITHELIUM; BOWMAN MEMBRANE; CORNEAL STROMA; DESCEMET MEMBRANE; and mesenchymal CORNEAL ENDOTHELIUM. It serves as the first refracting medium of the eye. It is structurally continuous with the SCLERA, avascular, receiving its nourishment by permeation through spaces between the lamellae, and is innervated by the ophthalmic division of the TRIGEMINAL NERVE via the ciliary nerves and those of the surrounding conjunctiva which together form plexuses. (Cline et al., Dictionary of Visual Science, 4th ed)	Corneas
D004781	Environmental Exposure	The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents in the environment or to environmental factors that may include ionizing radiation, pathogenic organisms, or toxic chemicals.	Exposure, Environmental,Environmental Exposures,Exposures, Environmental
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012589	Sciuridae	A family of the order Rodentia which contains 49 genera. Some of the more common genera are MARMOTA, which includes the marmot and woodchuck; Sciurus, the gray squirrel, S. carolinensis, and the fox squirrel, S. niger; Tamias, the eastern and western chipmunk; and Tamiasciurus, the red squirrel. The flying squirrels, except the scaly-tailed Anomaluridae, also belong to this family.	Chipmunks,Citellus,Eutamias,Prairie Dogs,Spermophilus,Squirrels,Susliks,Tamias,Chipmunk,Dog, Prairie,Dogs, Prairie,Prairie Dog,Squirrel,Suslik