The lens is a crystallin tissue of the anterior part of the eye that focuses light onto the retina. Aged-related cataract, which is the result of loss of lens transparency, is the most common cause of blindness in the world. Being constantly exposed to UV-light, lens is significantly affected by its UVA spectrum. UV-light exposure has been shown to result in apoptosis of lens cells which can lead to cataract formation. This suggests the need for molecular mechanisms to remove apoptotic debris from the lens. In the set of experiments it was proven that integrin αvβ5-mediated pathway is involved in phagocytosis of apoptotic cell debris in the ocular lens, thus contributing to its homeostasis. Additionally, it was shown that exposure to UV-light plays role in cataract formation by influencing integrin αvβ5-mediated phagocytosis function. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection