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Geneticists at the Centre for Genetic Disorders, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), have identified three genes that lead to cataract among the Indian population.

The research team, led by Prof Jai Rup Singh, included ophthalmologist Dr Daljit Singh, and scientists from National Institute of health, USA, and Institute of Human Genetics, Berlin.

The three genes identified by the scientists cause fan-shaped cataract, cerulean cataract and sutural cataract.

While releasing his research work among mediapersons, Dr Jai Rup Singh said that this research had been carried out on congenital cataract for the past 30 years.

He said that they had collected DNA samples from more than 2,400 persons suffering from genetic disease of the eye.

The DNA analysis on these cases was initiated in 1990. At present, the DNA analysis on more than 70 families with congenital cataract is still in progress, he added.

Singh said that congenital cataract affected about three per 10,000 newborns and was one of the significant causes of blindness in children and often led to life-long visual disability.