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Nuclear vacuoles in nuclear cataract
Acta Ophthalmologica
|February 1, 1986
Summary
Transparent vacuoles, previously thought congenital, are found in human nuclear cataracts. These nuclear vacuoles, observed in senile and hyperbaric oxygen-induced cataracts, show reversibility and lower dry mass.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- The human lens nucleus was traditionally considered homogeneous with opacities deemed congenital.
- Nuclear cataracts, both senile and induced, present distinct findings challenging this view.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and characteristics of vacuoles within the human lens nucleus in different cataract types.
- To compare the occurrence of nuclear vacuoles in senile cataracts versus those induced by hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Main Methods:
- Slit-lamp photography for visual assessment of vacuoles.
- Quantitative microradiography to analyze dry mass content within vacuoles.
- Comparative analysis of nuclear vacuoles in senile and hyperbaric oxygen-induced cataracts.
Main Results:
- Relatively transparent vacuoles were identified in the nucleus of lenses with nuclear cataracts.
- Nuclear vacuoles were observed in 11/25 patients treated with hyperbaric oxygen and 19/100 pre-operative senile cataracts.
- Microradiography revealed vacuoles as dark areas with lower dry mass (approx. 0.30 g/cm³) compared to surrounding lens nucleus (approx. 0.50 g/cm³).
- Vacuoles induced by hyperbaric oxygen showed partial reversibility.
Conclusions:
- The human lens nucleus is not always homogeneous and can contain vacuoles similar to cortical vacuoles.
- Nuclear vacuoles are present in both senile and hyperbaric oxygen-induced cataracts.
- These findings suggest a potential mechanism for cataract formation and reversibility, particularly in oxygen-induced cases.