Studies on human cataracts. III. Structural elements in nuclear cataracts and their contribution to the turbidity.

Gross correlation coefficient between light-scattering intensity and the optical parameters obtained for 48 sections of eight lenses with nuclear cataracts were evaluated. On the basis of these and other data in the literature, the structural elements, within the lens fiber are identified. These give rise to the optical parameters. It is proposed that three processes contribute to nuclear cataractogenesis: (1) syneretic process, (2) increase in the concentration but not in the size of protein aggregates, and (3) association (entanglement) between aggregates and optically anisotropic cytoskeleton or membrane components that leads to a decrease in structural bire-fringence.