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Abstract
PURPOSE: To investigate the mechanisms involved in the damage caused by UV-A irradiation at 365 nm on the eye lens. METHODS: Bovine lenses obtained from animals 1 to 5 years of age were placed in specially designed organ culture chambers for preincubation. Twenty-four hours later, the lenses were irradiated by 33 J/cm2 UV-A at 365 nm. During irradiation, the lenses were oriented in the culture so that the anterior surface faced the incident UV-A radiation source. After irradiation, lens optical quality was monitored throughout the 8 days of the culture period, and lens samples were taken for analysis of NaK-ATPase activity. RESULTS: Lens optics and NaK-ATPase activity were affected by irradiation of 33 J/cm2. The effects on lens epithelial NaK-ATPase activity were stronger at the equators than at the center. The damage to the activity at the center was reversible, as the lens optically recovered from the LW-A damage. CONCLUSIONS: Lens NaK-ATPase activity can recover from damage caused by UV-A at 365 nm. When the lenses received irradiation of 33 J/cm2, NaK-ATPase activity recovered from the damage during the culture period only at the center and not at the equators of the epithelium.