Phototoxicity of environmental radiations in human lens: revisiting the pathogenesis of UV-induced cataract

The magnitude of cataract pathology is indeed significant as it is the principal cause of blindness worldwide. Also, the prominence of this concept escalates with the current aging population. The burden of the disease is more tangible in developing countries than developed ones. Regarding this concern, there is a gap in classifying the pathogenesis of the ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced cataracts and explaining the possible cellular and subcellular pathways. In this review, we aim to revisit the effect of UV radiation on cataracts categorizing the cellular pathways involved. This may help for better pharmaceutical treatment alternatives and their wide-reaching availability. Also, in the last section, we provide an overview of the protecting agents utilized as UV shields. Further studies are required to enlighten new treatment modalities for UV radiation-induced pathologies in human lens.