The Eye, 3rd Edition, Volume lb: Vegetative Physiology and Biochemistry deals with the vegetative physiology and biochemistry of the eye. The book reviews major advances in the anatomy of the eye and its physiological and biochemical aspects, particularly the cornea and sclera, the ordered state of the lens, and lens development, growth and regeneration. This edition is organized into three chapters and begins with an overview of the mechanical and optical properties of the cornea and sclera and their relationship to the underlying structure of the tissue. This book shows that, in the cornea, the maintenance of the tissue structure requires the constant action of a fluid transport system dependent upon metabolic energy. The pathways of corneal nutrition, the sensitive corneal innervation, and the growth processes in the cornea and sclera are also discussed, emphasizing the mammalian cornea. The next chapter examines the use of physical and chemical techniques to determine how the ordered state of the lens is maintained and why that state is susceptible to chaotropic attack. Finally, an account of the metabolism of the lens and how cataract forms is given. This book is a valuable resource for students and researchers in fields ranging from ocular science to physiology and biochemistry.

Table of Contents:
List of Contributors Preface Foreword to the First Edition Chapter 1 The Cornea and Sclera I. Introduction II. Anatomy A. Dimensions B. Structure III. Stroma A. Tissue Mechanics B. Optical Properties C. Diffusion and Flow IV. Limiting Layers A. Mechanical and Optical Properties B. Permeability C. Fluid Pump and Thickness Control V. Metabolism and Nutrition A. Metabolic Activity B. Intermediary Metabolism and Function VI. Neurology A. Innervation B. Function C. Growth, Injury and Trophism VII. The Growth Processes A. Development of Globe B. Epithelium C. Endothelium D. Stroma E. Growth Factors Acknowledgments References Chapter 2 The Lens as a Physiochemical System I. Introduction II. Structural Order in the Lens A. Optical Techniques B. Electron Microscopy C. Physical Techniques Applied to the Intact Lens III. The Optical Properties of the Lens A. Lens Transparency B. Light Scattering in Osmotic Cataracts C. Light Scattering in Other Cataracts D. Increase in Lens Absorbance and Fluorescence in Nuclear Cataracts IV. Role of Membranes in the Lens A. Introduction B. Permeability Properties of Lens Membranes C. Single Channels in the Lens D. Mechanisms of the Control of Lens Membrane Permeability E. Effects of Osmotic Stress on Lens Membrane Permeability F. Effects of Hexose Sugars on Lens Membrane Permeability G. Amino Acid Transport V. Relationships Between Electrolyte and Protein Distribution in the Lens Acknowledgments References Chapter 3 The Lens: Development, Proteins, Metabolism and Cataract I. Introduction II. Lens Development, Growth and Regeneration A. Formation of the Lens and Lens Sutures B. Formation of the Lens Capsule C. Lens Cell Proliferation D. Elongation and Fiber Cell Differentiation E. DNA Synthesis in Development F. The Growth of the Lens: Lens Weight G. Crystallin Ontogeny H. Lens Regeneration III. Non-Protein Constituents of the Lens A. Amino Acids B. Lipids C. Ascorbic Acid D. DNA E. RNA F. Nucleotides G. Metabolic Intermediates H. Inorganic Ions I. Fluorescent Compounds J. Glutathione and Related Peptides IV Structural Proteins of the Lens A. Lens Capsule B. The Water-Soluble Structural Proteins of the Lens C. Actin, Microtubules and Intermediate Filaments D. Insoluble Proteins E. High Molecular Weight Fractions from Clear Lenses F. Changes in Lens Proteins in Aging and Cataract V. Lens Metabolism A. Overall Metabolism B. Enzyme Classification and Kinetics C. Glycolysis D. The Pentose Phosphate Pathway E. The Citric Acid Cycle F. The a-Glycerophosphate Cycle and Oxidative Phosphorylation G. The Sorbitol Pathway H. Lipid Metabolism I. Amino Acid Metabolism J. Metabolism of Glutathione K. Protein Synthesis L. Proteolysis and Proteolytic Enzymes M. Miscellaneous Enzymes VI. Cataract A. Radiation Cataracts B. Sugar Cataracts C. Toxic Cataracts D. Congenital Cataract E. Calcium and Cataract F. Cataract Secondary to Uveitis G. Traumatic Cataract H. Cold Cataract I. Osmotic Cataracts J. Deficiency Cataracts K. Multifactorial Cataract L. Conclusions on Experimental Cataract M. Human Cataract of Unknown Aetiology N. Cataract Therapy and Prevention Acknowledgments References Subject Index