[Copper metabolism in scleral tissue and possibilities of its correction in myopia]

Copper measurements in scleral tissue of 14 cadaveric emmetropic eyes and in 10 eyes with myopia of various degrees have shown a significant reduction of these levels in the equatorial and posterior segments of myopic sclera and abnormal distribution of copper in the tissue, this indicating disordered metabolism of this trace element. A method for drug correction of the detected disorder has been experimentally tried, consisting in administration under the Tenon's capsule of a copper coordination compound on a foam composition base, used for sclera-fortifying injections in progressive myopia. This resulted in elevation of scleral copper concentration, activization of collagen biosynthesis processes, and improvement of scleral tissue elasticity.