Abstract
Purpose:
The purpose of this work is to identify and determine differences in surface tension of aqueous humor (AH) in patients with senile cataract and different types of glaucoma.
Methods:
62 patients with glaucoma and 26 patients with cataract were consecutively enrolled in our study. Patients with previous history of anterior segment surgery, anterior segment pathology or intraocular injections were dismissed. Topical ocular medications within the last 6 months were reported. Different types of glaucoma were identified and cataracts were graded using total phaco time and total released energy data Aqueous humor was obtained during the first step of a surgical procedure, nonpenetrating deep sclerotomy in glaucoma cases and phacoemulsification in cataract cases. Around 150 microliters of AH were directly aspirated through an unique sideport using a 27-gauge cannula. The AH was stored at -80C in our tissue bank for up to 9 months. A pendant drop based optical goniometer, OCA-15 (Dataphysics, Filderstadt, Germany) was used to measure surface tension.
Results:
Mean surface tension was 63,157 mN/m and 60,98 mN/m for the glaucoma and cataract group respectively. Standard deviation was 7,525 and 6,711 for both groups respectively. Statistically significant differences were found between both groups. No statistically significant differences were found between different types of glaucoma or grades of cataract, however clear trends were observed within groups.
Conclusions:
Biophysical properties of the aqueous humor may be altered in various ocular pathologies related to the anterior segment. Those alterations may be related with the severity or the pathogenesis of the condition.
Keywords: 633 outflow: trabecular meshwork •
592 metabolism •
420 anterior chamber