Iron In Eye Disease

Iron homeostasis and eye disease.
Loh A, Hadziahmetovic M, Dunaief JL.
F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute,
University of Pennsylvania, 305 Stellar-Chance Labs, 422 Curie
Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

Iron is necessary for life, but excess iron can be toxic to tissues.
Iron is thought to damage tissues primarily by generating oxygen free
radicals through the Fenton reaction. We present an overview of the
evidence supporting iron's potential contribution to a broad range of
eye disease using an anatomical approach. Firstly, iron can be
visualized in the cornea as iron lines in the normal aging cornea as
well as in diseases like keratoconus and pterygium. In the lens, we
present the evidence for the role of oxidative damage in
cataractogenesis. Also, we review the evidence that iron may play a
role in the pathogenesis of the retinal disease age-related macular
degeneration. Although currently there is no direct link between
excess iron and development of optic neuropathies, ferrous iron's
ability to form highly reactive oxygen species may play a role in
optic nerve pathology. Lastly, we discuss recent advances in
prevention and therapeutics for eye disease with antioxidants and iron
chelators.

PMID: 19059309
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In general, don't poke anything metallic in your eye. It's not very
healthy.