Small-angle light scattering studies on xylose cataract formation in bovine lenses.

Using polarized light scattered in the I'' and I+ modes, we determined the relative contributions of density and orientation fluctuation to the opacity of bovine lenses. In both the cortex and the nucleus of bovine lenses cultured in xylose column, we found that the increase in hydration effects the optical anisotropy (birefringence) first, before the lake formation will contribute heavily to the density fluctuation.