is decreased (Shock, 1989). Overall, there
is an accumulation of insoluble lens protein,
chemically altered in such a way that
it loses its most crucial optical property,
i.e. transparency. While a full discussion of
the pathophysiology of cataract is beyond
the scope of this article, the interested
reader may wish to consult Harding
(1993) for an up-to-date overview of current
research in this area