In vivo observations of cataract development in Emory mouse

In order to establish staging of cataract development in Emory mice, in vivo observation of crystallaine leses of 366 eyes in 183 Emory mice were performed with the slit-lamp microscope from the time of opening of the lid fissure to the age of 12 months. The findings were documented by conventional slit-lamp photography and a Scheimpflug camera and were analyzed by the same methods used for human eyes. The cataract development was divided into four stages. Initital opacification in the central part of the anterior superficial cortex appeared until the 2nd month of age (stage I). In stage II, opacification progressed into the deep cortex which was seen by the 6th month at the latest. In the 7th or 8th month, opalescent opacity spread around the nucleus (stage III). Stage IV was total opacification, appearing between the 10th and 12th month.