New aspects of glass-blowers' cataract

So-called glass-blowers' cataract, due to heating of the eye lens by the radiation from furnaces, is virtually extinct as an occupational disease. New interest has grown, however, both because of new sources (lasers) and of new views on intraocular heat dissipation. In this contribution, three possible absorption mechanisms are discussed: heating by direct absorption in the eye lens; heating via the iris; and heating via the cornea.