Free radicals and antioxidants in the pathogenesis of eye diseases.

There is fairly convincing evidence that free radical mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of cataracts and uveitis and that antioxidants may be protective. Studies on retinal degeneration are almost entirely limited to dietary manipulation of vitamins C and D. Unfortunately, antioxidant properties are not easily isolated from other metabolic effects of vitamins. Cataracts, uveitis, and retinal degeneration cause nearly one-third of all blindness. The evidence that free radical mechanisms are important in the pathogenesis of these diseases is compelling incentive to encourage more extensive and detailed investigation.