Which category would include dietary deficiencies leading to lens changes?

Which category would include dietary deficiencies leading to lens changes?

• A. Metabolic
• B. Environmental
• C. Nutritional
• D. Traumatic

Answer: (C)

Dietary deficiencies that affect the lens arise because the lens depends on nutrients delivered from the bloodstream through the aqueous humor to stay clear. When the diet lacks essential nutrients, the lens’ metabolic balance and antioxidant defenses falter, allowing proteins to undergo changes and aggregate, which leads to opacities. Because this lens change is driven by an inadequate intake of nutrients, it sits in the nutritional category rather than being caused by a metabolic disease, an environmental exposure, or a trauma. In practice, these lens changes are often described as nutritional cataracts—occurring with malnutrition or malabsorption—highlighting the link between diet and lens health.

Dietary deficiencies that affect the lens arise because the lens depends on nutrients delivered from the bloodstream through the aqueous humor to stay clear. When the diet lacks essential nutrients, the lens’ metabolic balance and antioxidant defenses falter, allowing proteins to undergo changes and aggregate, which leads to opacities. Because this lens change is driven by an inadequate intake of nutrients, it sits in the nutritional category rather than being caused by a metabolic disease, an environmental exposure, or a trauma. In practice, these lens changes are often described as nutritional cataracts—occurring with malnutrition or malabsorption—highlighting the link between diet and lens health.