Findings by UCI, German researchers could aid in saving
sight of millions
Groundbreaking new findings by UC Irvine and German chemists
about how cataracts form could be used to help prevent the world’s leading
cause of blindness, which currently affects nearly 20 million people worldwide.
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“That’s the dream, and this is a big step,” said Rachel
Martin, UC Irvine associate professor of chemistry and co-author of a paper
featured on the December cover of the journal Structure. “Understanding the
molecular mechanism of what goes wrong in the eye that leads to a cataract
could lead to the development of better treatment options, including more
sophisticated artificial lenses and drugs.”