Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Optical Coherence Tomography: Imaging Mouse Retinal Ganglion Cells In Vivo
Published on: September 22, 2017
Ophthalmic findings in classical galactosemia--a screened population
J P Burke1, M O'Keefe, R Bowell
1Department of Paediatric Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Insights
Early diagnosis and a galactose-free diet prevent cataracts in children with galactosemia. Ophthalmologists play a key role in monitoring biochemical control to avoid lens opacities.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic disorders
- Genetics
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Classical galactosemia is an autosomal recessive disorder of galactose metabolism.
- Deficiency in galactose-1-phosphate-uridyl transferase leads to galactosemia.
- Galactosemia can cause cataract formation due to galactitol accumulation in the lens.
Abstract:
Classical galactosemia due to a deficiency of galactose-1-phosphate-uridyl transferase, is an autosomal recessive disorder of galactose metabolism with an incidence in Ireland of one in 30,000 births. It can result in cataract formation through the accumulation of galactitol within the lens. Seventeen children with transferase deficient galactosemia were studied. Early diagnosis followed by a galactose-free diet and tight biochemical control prevented cataract formation in 13 cases after a mean follow-up of 6.3 years. Cataracts did not regress in all patients commenced on diet by 6 weeks but early treatment prevented progression. The ophthalmologist may play an important role in the monitoring of patients with this disease as the recognition of new lens opacities by slit-lamp biomicroscopy may be the most sensitive initial index of inadequate biochemical control.
Related Concept Videos
Glucose Transporters
Facilitated diffusion-glucose transporters (GLUTs) are encoded by the solute-linked carrier (SLC) family 2, subfamily A gene family, or SLC2A. The 14 GLUT protein members are distributed into three classes:
Glaucoma: Overview
Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways

