DISEASE: Cataracts

PATHOGENESIS: With age, older cells degenerate, anucleate, and proteins called crystallins become denatured and cytoplasm becomes dehydrated. Yellow-brownish pigment called urochrome develops from photo-oxidation.

HISTOLOGY FEATURES: Marked eosinophilia and homogeneity of the lens nucleus absences of artifactitious cracks that normally occur between lens fibers during microtomy.

OCULAR FEATURES: Four common types of cataracts: cortical, nuclear, anterior subcapsular and posterior subcapsular.