[Studies of the changes in crystalline lens transparency in subjects at risk of developing cataract]

The aim of the survey was a comparison of transparency of the lenses examined by means of in vivo spectrophotometry of the eye in metalurgists threatened by development of cataract--with the results obtained in persons not engaged in metalurgy and selected by chance from the population. The investigations showed that the transparency of the lenses was lower in the group of the metalurgists than in the control group in spite of the fact that the ophthalmological examination did not detect any lens changes. The results of this study show that the in vivo spectrophotometry may find some employment for detection of changes in the lens which may occur in persons threatened by development of cataract.