GENETIC-ANALYSIS OF ADULT-ONSET CATARACT IN A CITY-BASED OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL

Adult-onset cataract (AOC) is a major ocular health problem and is the number one cause of blindness in the world. It is interesting to note that if the development of cataract is delayed by 10 years, the numbe r of cataract surgeries needed would decrease by 45%. To prevent or de lay cataract, the molecular pathological mechanisms underlying the len s change have to be understood, and this requires that the genes invol ved in such mechanisms should be identified. Hence, in this study we a im to identify AOC families which show a clear mendelian inheritance p attern, as only these families would be ideal for mapping the genes re sponsible. Over a period of 8 months, from September 1995-April 1996, 17 families with two Or more affected members were identified. Segrega tion analysis showed autosomal dominant inheritance in multiple affect ed families. We propose to map the genes responsible for cataract in t hese families by linkage analysis and mutational screening of candidat e genes.