Acute lens opacity induced by different kinds of anesthetic drugs in mice

To study whether specific anesthetic drugs or tear layer evaporation was primarily responsible for the acute cataract and what the change of lens structure is in anesthetized mice.

Five groups were set up in the experiment: Group A (topicamide and phenylephrine mixed eye drop+ chloral hydrate), Group B (tropicamide and phenylephrine mixed eye drop+sevoflurane), Group C (tropicamide and phenylephrine mixed eye drop), Group D (topicamide and phenylephrine mixed eye drop+chloral hydrate, carbomer eye drop in the right eyes), and Group E (tropicamide and phenylephrine mixed eye drop+sevoflurane, carbomer eye drop in the right eyes). A simple classification system was used to assess the severity of lens opacity. And a numerical value from 0 to 3 to each grade was assigned for the cataract index calculation and data analysis. The gross appearance and time course of development of lens opacity were assessed. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the lens structure changes in the reversible cataract.

Tropicamide did not induce lens opacification in mice. Lens opacity caused by inhaled sevoflurane was similar to injected cholral hydrate. Both inhaled-anesthetic-induced lens opacity and injected-anesthetic-induced lens opacity could be prevented by carbomer eye drop. In the severe opacity lens, a wide range of lens fiber cell structure had disordered. The fiber cells became uneven thickness.

The acute reversible lens opacity can unilaterally develop or be induced by a local cause. The structure of lens fiber cells changed in the lens opacity which may influence the permanent connection of the lens fiber cells. This study was not only of practical significance to help maintain lens transparency for eye research, but also of the deeper consideration about the reversible lens opacification phenomenon.