Lenticular Opacities Research Articles

Vision screening among hearing-impaired school children in Biratnagar, Nepal

Background: The prevalence of hearing impairment in Nepal is 16.5%, affecting approximately 2.71 million people. Deaf children are visually dependent, and even a mild refractive error may cause visual discomfort. The goal of this study was to determine the need for vision screenings in schools for the hearing impaired in Biratnagar, Nepal.
 Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with permission from Birat Deaf Secondary School, Biratnagar, Nepal. A total of 130 hearing-impaired students were examined. Non-invasive, comprehensive optometric examinations were performed to detect visual disorders. When a more detailed evaluation was needed, the students were referred to the Pediatric Ophthalmology Department, Biratnagar Eye Hospital Biratnagar, Nepal.
 Results: Of the 130 hearing-impaired students, 58 (44.6%) were male and 72 (55.4%) were female. The mean ± standard deviation of age was 16.03 ± 3.8 years (range 6–25 years). Twenty-one (16.1%) students had refractive errors: 13 (10%) had myopia, 7 (5.4%) had hyperopia, and 1 (0.8%) had anisometropia. In the cover test, 88 (67.7%) had orthophoria, 19 (14.6%) had exophoria, 11 (8.5%) had esophoria, 5 (3.85%) had exotropia, and 3 (2.3%) had esotropia. Cover tests were not performed in 4 (3.1%) students, as they were unable to fixate due to nystagmus or decreased vision. On ocular examination, 20 (15.3%) students had anterior segment abnormalities, including lid abnormality, conjunctivitis, Bitot’s spots, pterygium, corneal opacity, and lenticular opacity. Posterior segment or retinal abnormalities were found in four students with one having Usher syndrome. Color vision defects, nystagmus, and amblyopia were found in 8 (6.1%), 2 (1.5 %), and 1 (0.8%), respectively.
 Conclusions: The findings of the present study reflect the need of periodic vision screenings in schools for the hearing impaired in Nepal. These children are at a high risk of vision impairment.
 
 How to cite this article: Sah SK, Thakur R, Adhikari PR. Vision screening among hearing-impaired school children in Biratnagar, Nepal. Med Hypothesis Discov Innov Optom. 2021 Spring; 2(1): 36-40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.51329/mehdioptometry123
 

Future Trends in Presbyopia Correction.

Presbyopia affects 1.8 billion people worldwide. This reduction in distance corrected near visual acuity impacts quality of life, which prompts patients to seek treatment. Presbyopia is an early manifestation of the "crystalline lens optical dysfunction through aging," or dysfunctional lens syndrome, and appropriate management of presbyopia is dependent on coexisting factors such as increased higher order aberrations, reduced contrast sensitivity, light scatter, and lenticular opacification. This review of published literature (PubMed and MEDLINE) is presented in narrative format and discusses medical and surgical treatments available to patients who experience presbyopia, while highlighting future therapies. Numerous strategies exist for the management of presbyopia. These strategies include pharmacological therapy, glasses and contact lenses, corneal, scleral, and lenticular procedures. This article discusses the role of several new and existing presbyopia treatments, as well as which patients are candidates for these novel therapies. Although no single treatment is ideal for all patients with presbyopia, new medical and surgical strategies increase the number of options available when addressing different stages of presbyopia and dysfunctional lens syndrome. [J Refract Surg. 2021;37(6 Suppl):S28-S34.].

The “Eyes” Have It. Ophthalmological Findings of Bilateral Cataract in a Boy with Hypoparathyroidism

Background: Hypoparathyroidism is a relatively rare pediatric endocrine disorder in which parathyroid hormone (PTH) production is low or absent, resulting in low serum calcium and high phosphorus. In children, hypoparathyroidism is either congenital or acquired and is often associated with a genetic syndrome. Clinical manifestations include neuromuscular hyperexcitability, tetany, cardiac arrhythmias, and seizure. Radiographic findings include basal ganglia calcifications. In adult literature, ophthalmological findings of lenticular opacities and cataract have also been reported in hypoparathyroidism. Due to the rarity of this condition, there is a paucity of ophthalmological findings in children. We report a pediatric case with severe hypocalcemia, recurrent generalize seizures, intracranial calcifications and bilaterally cataracts secondary to hypoparathyroidism. Case: A 7-year-old boy, from a remote area in China, presented to a local hospital with one-year history of paresthesia in hands and feet. Initial lab evaluation revealed hypocalcemia with serum calcium of 1.76 mmol/L (2.03-2.68). Oral calcium supplement was started but symptoms progressively worsened. He was transferred to a tertiary hospital for further evaluation. On admission, physical exam was significant for positive Chvostek and Trousseau signs and lab evaluation showed serum calcium: 1.28 mmol/L (2.15-2.57), phosphorus: 4.2 mmol/L (0.95-1.75), magnesium: 0.97 mmol/L (0.73-1.06), PTH: 2.2 pg/mL (8.7-79), and 25(OH)Vit D: 97.1 mmol/L (36-126). Multiple symmetrical calcifications were found in the frontal lobe and basal ganglia. Ophthalmology consultation revealed bilateral cataracts with impaired vision. Trio whole exome sequencing with copy number variation testing reveled no pathogenic or likely pathogenic copy number and sequence level variants. He was diagnosed with idiopathic acquired hypoparathyroidism. The seizure disorder, intracranial calcification, and bilateral cataracts were attributed to severe and prolonged hypocalcemia secondary to hypoparathyroidism. He had a second episode of seizure after he was admitted, and seizure resolved after treated with midazolam and IV calcium gluconate. He was started on 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D. Clinical symptoms resolved and he became biochemically eucalcemic with titrated therapy. Summary: Although lenticular changes have been observed in adults with hypoparathyroidism since the 1950’s, hypoparathyroidism and resulting cataract formations are relatively rare. Proposed mechanism of cataract formation in hypoparathyroidism is prolonged hypocalcemia resulting in membrane damage in the aqueous humor and subsequent sodium content increase in the lens. To our knowledge there are no prior pediatric reports of cataracts associated with hypoparathyroidism and signifies the importance of ophthalmologic referral and evaluation.

Ocular abnormalities in patients with beta-thalassemia: a prospective study

<p><strong>Background: </strong>Beta thalassemia is severe genetic blood disorder caused by mutation in the gene encoding for the beta chains of haemoglobin and individuals with beta thalassemia require life-long red blood cell transfusions to survive which leads to hemosiderosis and affects all the organs in the body including eyes. The study aims to study ocular manifestations in these children and its correlation with age and serum ferritin levels.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A descriptive cross-sectional study was done in government medical college Jammu in 2014-2015 on 67 BTM children. Children below 3 years of age and with pre-existing ocular abnormalities, infections were excluded from the study. Ocular examination was done for any major eye abnormality, congenital malformations or trauma. Retinal examination was done using direct and indirect ophthalmoscope, changes were recorded.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>47.76% of children belonging to the group: 5-10 years, while only 5.97%, i.e., 4 in number pertained to the age group: >15 years. Lens opacity was seen in 29.85% of children. 31 children showed changes in retinal activity, while decreased visual acuity was also observed in 17 children. Iris was significantly affected in children with serum ferritin >2500 ng/ml. Even greater lenticular changes and opacities were observed in children with higher serum ferritin levels (>4500 ng/ml).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>As life expectancy for beta-thalassemia patients extends, regular monitoring of the progression of disease and symptoms to detect early changes in their ocular system is recommended, to achieve a better quality of life for this patient group.</p>

БИОЛОГИЧЕСКАЯ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТЬ БЫСТРЫХ НЕЙТРОНОВ И УСКОРЕННЫХ МНОГОЗАРЯДНЫХ ИОНОВ ДЛЯ ПОСТРОЕНИЯ НОВОЙ ЗАВИСИМОСТИ КОЭФФИЦИЕНТОВ КАЧЕСТВА КОСМИЧЕСКИХ ИЗЛУЧЕНИЙ ОТ ЛИНЕЙНОЙ ПЕРЕДАЧИ ЭНЕРГИИ

The authors review recent experimental data about relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of low absorbed doses (0.01–0.5 Gy) from fast neutrons and accelerated multicharged ions currently accepted as career limits for cosmonauts from the standpoint of late effects risk mitigation. According to the new radiobiological findings, literary maximum values of the RBEM coefficients for low doses and dose rates are increased two or three times for late cytogenetic effects; benign cell transformation and tumor risks; lifetime reduction; disorders in the brain cortex neurons and damages to organs; lenticular opacity and cataract. The analysis-based revision of the quality coefficients – linear energy transfer (LET) relationship leads to a considerable increase of equivalent doses received from galactic cosmic rays and fast neutrons, and calculated total radiation risk over cosmonaut's lifetime.

Commentary: Pediatric cataract management during the COVID-19 era.

Commentary: Pediatric cataract management during the COVID-19 era.

Congenital aniridia: clinical profile of children seen at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, South-West Nigeria.

Purpose:To describe the clinical features of patients younger than 16 years with aniridia presenting to the Paediatric Ophthalmology unit of the Eye Clinic, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.Methods:The is a retrospective review of children with aniridia seen between May 2015 and April 2019 at the Paediatric Ophthalmology unit of the Eye Clinic, University College Hospital in Ibadan. Data on demographic characteristics, presenting complaints, ocular and systemic examination findings, and interventions were collected and descriptively summarised.Results:A total of 28 eyes of 14 patients were studied. The mean age was 6.37 ± 4.98 years. Seven (50%) patients were male. Aniridia was diagnosed in first-degree relatives of nine patients. The most common complaint at presentation was poor vision in 11 (78.6%) patients. Objective visual acuity assessment was obtained in 22 (78.6%) eyes. Presenting visual acuity was worse than 20/60 in all 22 eyes and worse than 20/400 in 8 (36.4%) eyes. Refraction was performed in 17 (60.7%) eyes and revealed a mean spherical equivalent of −3.93 ± 5.99 diopters. Twenty (71.4%) eyes had corneal opacities, and lenticular opacities were seen in 15 (62.5%) of 24 eyes. Mean intraocular pressure (IOP) at presentation was 21.62 ± 10.4 mmHg; 12 (41.4%) eyes had elevated IOP at presentation. Ten (35.7%) eyes had cataract surgery and six (21.4%) eyes had glaucoma surgery.Conclusion:Familial aniridia was common in this study, and most of the patients presented with moderate to severe visual impairment. The common ocular associations were refractive error, cataract, corneal opacity and glaucoma.

A case control study of estimation of vitamin D3 levels in patients with lenticular opacity aged between 18-50 years in a tertiary institute in India

Background & Objectives: Ocular diseases like cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and ARMD are some of the ocular associations observed in patients with deficient Vitamin D levels. Although earlier studies have addressed the issue of metabolic factors leading to cataract in infants, studies on adults is lacking. In our current study we intend to assess and analyse the serum vitamin D3 levels in patients with early cataractous changes aged

More Precise Determination of the Relative Biological Effectiveness of Fast Neutrons and Accelerated Multi-Charged Ions at Low Doses for Estimation of the Risk of Injury of Brain and Lens Neurons

The authors review the available data on damage to cortical neurons and incipient lenticular opacity in small laboratory animals after exposure to fast neutrons, accelerated multi-charged ions (AMCIs), and different doses of X- and γ-rays. Analysis and possible revision of maximum coefficients of relative biological effectiveness (RBEM) for these effects, as well as RBEM coefficients for other space radiation-induced impacts, including blast transformation, cytogenetic alterations, increased probability of tumor development in organs and tissues, and reduction in estimated life expectancy, will lay the grounds for reconsideration of the existing normative documents and calculations of generalized and equivalent doses for organs and tissues based on the absorbed dose values. At present, Russian GOST 25 645.218-90 “Space Crew Radiation Safety during Space Fight” and recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP, papers 60 and 61, 1994) reflect the dependence of space radiation quality factors (QFs) on linear energy transfer.

Weissellosis in rainbow trout in Colombia

Weissellosis is an emergent disease caused by Weissella, a Gram-positive bacteria correlated with hemorrhagic illness and mortality in farm-raised trout in several countries. The current study reports the first outbreaks of weissellosis by Weissella ceti in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), which caused severe mortalities in trout farms in Colombia between May 2016 to June 2019. The disease occurred in several farms irrigated by the same river where temperatures were above 17 °C. Symptoms of the disease were limited almost exclusively to trout above 250 g. The clinical signs consisted of lethargic and anorexic fish, swimming in circles at the surface or against the walls. Pathological findings were mainly ocular lesions like bilateral exophthalmia, periocular and intraocular hemorrhage, lenticular opacity and corneal rupture usually leading to blindness, muscular hemorrhages and necrosis. Microbial isolating from eye, brain, kidney, liver and muscle was performed and W. ceti was confirmed by amplification and sequencing of the 16S rRNA. The aim of this work was to characterize the Weisellosis by Weissella ceti in trouts in Colombia, including microbiological isolating, molecular analysis, gross and microscopic characterization.

Therapeutic effects of various renin angiotensin modulators on hyperglycemia-induced cataract formation in Sprague Dawley rats.

Our previous research work reported the beneficial effects of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) for the treatment of diabetes associated cataract which was induced by streptozotocin (STZ). The current study, evaluated the effects of topical administration of various renin angiotensin modulators on STZ-induced cataracts in rats. Single dose of STZ (60 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered in the rats to induce diabetes. Animals were divided into normal and diabetic rats. Normal rats were administered with single dose of sodium citrate buffer (0.1 M, 10ml/kg, i.p.). Diabetic animals were divided into various treatment groups, each group contains six animals and received aliskiren, olmesartan, enalapril, and angiotensin 1-7 at a dose of 0.5% w/v topically on the cornea of the eye for a period of 8 weeks. During experimental protocol morphology of the eyes and lenticular opacity were monitored. Animals were sacrificed after 8 weeks of drug treatment, and various cataractogenic biochemical parameters were assessed. Topical administrations with aliskiren, enalapril, olmesartan, and angiotensin 1-7 showed non-significant alterations in the blood glucose level, but significantly decreased lenticular opacity, restored antioxidant level, restored MDA level and Nitrite content, and decreased the onset of cataract formation. Overall, our findings suggest that topical treatment with renin angiotensin modulators delayed the onset of diabetes-induced cataract formation.

Molecular Etiology of Isolated Congenital Cataract Using Next-Generation Sequencing: Single Center Exome Sequencing Data from Turkey

Congenital cataract, which refers to lenticular opacity diagnosed at birth or more commonly during the first year of life, is one of the leading causes of childhood blindness. Molecular understanding of the disease pathogenesis has evolved thanks to many studies based on modern technologies. In this study, we aimed to identify and discuss the molecular etiology of nonsyndromic or nonmetabolic bilateral congenital cataract by whole-exome sequencing (WES). Patients with bilateral congenital cataract presumed to be isolated after metabolic and genetic evaluation were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent detailed ophthalmological examination and bilateral cataract surgery. DNA samples of the probands, parents, and available affected family members were analyzed by WES. Variants were validated and confirmed by Sanger sequencing in all probands and in available affected family members. A total of 4 patients (3 girls and 1 boy) were recruited. Two patients had nuclear, 1 patient had total, and 1 patient had combined lamellar and sutural cataract. One family had consanguinity. A heterozygous c.215+1G>A mutation in CRYBA1, heterozygous c.432C>G (p.Tyr144Ter) mutation in CRYGC, heterozygous c.70A>C (p.Pro24Thr) mutation in CRYGD, and a heterozygous c.466G>A (p.Gly156Arg) mutation in CRYBB3 were detected. All these mutations were confirmed by Sanger sequencing in selected affected individuals. The current study identified all causative mutations of congenital cataract in the crystalline genes. The results confirmed that WES is a very useful tool in the investigation of the diseases with heterogeneous genetic background.

Clinical outcomes of KeraVio using violet light: emitting glasses and riboflavin drops for corneal ectasia: a pilot study

Background/aimsWe developed a novel technology consisting of violet light (VL)-emitting glasses and defined the combination of VL irradiation and riboflavin treatment as KeraVio. Our goal was to evaluate the clinical...

Intraocular lens implantation in combination with lensectomy and vitrectomy for persistent fetal vasculature.

To present surgical outcomes following intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in combination with lensectomy and vitrectomy for the treatment of persistent fetal vasculature (PFV). This interventional case series included 19 eyes from 19 patients with unilateral combined PFV. Limbal lensectomy, capsulotomy, anterior vitrectomy, dissection of the retrolental membrane and stalk, and in-the-bag or in-the-sulcus IOL implantation were performed for the treatment of visually significant lenticular opacity with the presence of a retrolental fibrovascular membrane and stalk, in an eye with sufficient capsular support. Postoperative anatomical and visual outcomes were evaluated. After 22 to 50months of follow-up, IOLs were well positioned in 18 (95%) of 19 eyes. Retinal dragging was reversed in all 8 eyes with preexisting peripapillary tractional retinopathy. Major complications occurred in 2 eyes (11%): one eye (5.5%) of vitreous hemorrhage and posterior capsular opacity and one eye (5.5%) of IOL dislocation. Nine (47%) of 19 eyes achieved best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) above 20/200. Myopic shift after IOL implantation ranged from 0.75 to 4.17 D. Compared with eyes with poorer BCVA, eyes with BCVA above 20/200 had a better preoperative BCVA (mean 20/400 vs. 20/4000, P = 0.004) and were less likely to have preexisting peripapillary tractional retinopathies (11% vs. 70%, P = 0.002). Primary IOL implantation in combination with lensectomy and vitrectomy is an alternative to treat eyes with combined PFV. Prospects for rehabilitation may be limited by poor preoperative visual function and the presence of tractional retinopathies preoperatively. Postoperative refractive status requires long-term monitoring.

A sialidosis type I cohort and a quantitative approach to multimodal ophthalmic imaging of the macular cherry-red spot

AimTo describe the ophthalmologic findings on the largest cohort of patients with sialidosis type I due to deficiency of the lysosomal sialidase, neuraminidase 1 (NEU1) and to introduce a quantitative...

Imaging of Age-Related Macular Degeneration by Adaptive Optics Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy in Eyes With Aged Lenses or Intraocular Lenses.

PurposeTo assess the performance of adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) in a large sample of eyes with or without age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and with cataracts or intraocular lenses (IOLs).MethodsPatients with various degrees of AMD and age-similar normal subjects underwent fundus photography. Cataract severity and IOL clarity were assessed by fundus reflex photographs. In phakic eyes, lenticular opacity was graded as nuclear, cortical, or posterior subcapsular cataract. In eyes with IOLs, lens clarity was assessed by posterior capsule opacification (PCO). Quality of AOSLO images of the macular photoreceptor mosaic was classified as good, adequate or inadequate by human graders in a subjective assessment of cone visibility.ResultsA total of 159 eyes in 80 subjects (41 males, 39 females, aged 72.5 ± 11.5 years, 16 normals) were examined. Seventy-nine eyes had IOLs, and 80 eyes were phakic. AOSLO produced good images in 91 eyes (57%), adequate images in eight eyes (5%), and inadequate images in 27 eyes (17%). AOSLO did not acquire images in 33 eyes (21%), because of dense lenticular opacity, widespread PCO, or problems specific to individual subjects.ConclusionsAOSLO images considered at least Adequate or better for visualizing cone photoreceptors were acquired from 62% of study eyes.Translational RelevanceAOSLO can be used as an additional imaging modality to investigate the structure of cone photoreceptors in research on visual function in AMD and in clinical trials involving older patients.

Lens dose and risk of radiation-induced early lens opacities among hospital staff. A cross-sectional study

The main health effect of exposure to ionizing radiation on the eyes is lens opacities and cataracts. Recent findings have raised questions about the pathogenesis of lenticular damage and the exact threshold dose for the onset of this effect. Occupational dose limits for the lens have been therefore recently reduced to 0.02 Gy/year averaged over 5 years with no single year exceeding 0.05 Gy/year. Healthcare workers can be exposed to ionizing radiation during interventional and other medical procedures. The aim of our study was to evaluate the annual dose to the lens in a large group of healthcare workers exposed to ionizing radiation who are working in a university hospital in Rome and to evaluate a dose-response relationship between lens exposure and the onset of lenticular opacities. We reviewed the exposure data of 702 subjects; the average annual dose to the crystalline lens was calculated using a physical algorithm. Moreover, the clinical records of 107 radiation exposed workers were reviewed: the presence of radiation-compatible opacities were assessed for all operators according to the Lens Opacities Classification System (LOCS) III and Merriam-Focht classification. Annual doses exceeding 0.02 Gy were found in 2.1% of the exposed population. Incipient lenticular opacities were observed in 18.6% of the study population. The presence of alterations was associated with higher lens dose (>0.0092 Gy). Based on our results, optimization of procedures and protection of the lens from ionizing radiation by means of personal protection equipment are strongly recommended in higher exposure scenarios.

Cataract following electric shock - Case report

Ocular trauma is the under-recognized cause of unilateral blindness particularly in developing nations.The growing demand on generated electricity has also led to increase in electricity related occupational trauma. We report a case of bilateral cataract in a 22 years professional electrician. He survived a high voltage electric shock and sustained burn injury on the right side of his head. Ocular examination revealed typical anterior as well as posterior subcapsular cataract in right eye and visually insignificant early anterior subcapsular vacuoles in the left eye. There was a significant difference in lenticular opacification density in between these two eyes. Uneventful phacoemulsification and foldable posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation was performed in the right eye and the sufferer was rehabilitated with normal best corrected visual acuity. The possibility of ocular complications and importance of ocular screening is emphasized in the survivors of electrical injury. The lenticular opacities can be successfully managed with surgery, however the final visual acuity depends on damage to other vital ocular structures. The clinical features, pathogenic mechanism of these opacities and review of the literatures are discussed.

Spontaneous Ocular Abnormalities in Sprague-Dawley Rats.

We collected historical control data derived from pretreatment ophthalmologic examinations of young (4 to 7 wk of age) Sprague-Dawley (Crl:CD[SD]) male, (2033, 42 lots) and female (1322, 32 lots) rats used in toxicity studies at our facility from 2004 through 2015. Ophthalmologic examination of male and female rats by using a binocular indirect ophthalmoscope and slit lamp revealed high incidences of corneal opacity (61% and 60%, respectively), lenticular opacity (43% and 47%), persistent hyaloid artery (21% and 17%), and retinal folds (27% and 27%). All other ocular abnormalities of the globe, conjunctiva, cornea, anterior chamber, lens, iris, vitreous, and choroid or retina occurred at incidences of less than 5%. Corneal opacities were localized mainly in the corneal nasal (38% and 37%) and paracentral (32% and 33%) areas, and lenticular opacities predominantly occurred in the nuclear area (31% and 34%). We then compared the incidences of spontaneous ocular abnormalities between the first (2004 through 2009) and second (2010 through 2015) 6-y periods. Corneal opacity and persistent hyaloid artery in male and female rats occurred more frequently during the second 6-y than during the first (corneal opacity, second period: male, 68%; female, 66%; corneal opacity, first period: 49% and 51%; persistent artery, second period, 26% and 23%; persistent artery, first period; 12% and 10%). These results support the importance of updating historical control data regularly and providing useful information for toxicologists and ophthalmologists to differentiate treatment-related changes from spontaneous lesions.

Drug-induced lenticular opacity and accumulation of cholesterol-related substances in the lens cortex of dogs.

TP0446131, developed as an antidepressant agent, was found to cause lenticular opacity in a 13-week repeated-dose study in dogs. Histopathologically, the lenticular opacity was observed as a degeneration of the lens fibers, characterized by irregularity in the ordered arrangement of the fibers which is necessary to maintain the transparency of the lens, and was considered to manifest clinically as cataract. To evaluate the development mechanism of the lenticular opacity, the chemical constituents of the lens, which is known to be associated with the development of cataract, were examined. The results of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis revealed an increase in the amplitudes of 3 unknown peaks in a dose- and time-dependent manner in the lens, with no remarkable changes in the other chemical components tested. In addition, the content of cholesterol, alterations of which have been reported to be associated with cataract, remained unchanged. The mass spectral data and chromatographic behavior of the 3 peaks indicated that these peaks corresponded to sterol-related substances, and that one of them was 7-dehydrocholesterol, a precursor of cholesterol biosynthesis. This finding suggested that TP0446131 exerts some effects on the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway, which could be involved in the development of the cataracts. Furthermore, increases in the levels of these sterol-related substances were also detected in the serum, and were, in fact, noted prior to the onset of the cataract, suggesting the possibility that these substances in the serum could be used as potential safety biomarkers for predicting the onset of cataract induced by TP0446131.