Chemical Analysis of Aqueous Humor in Cataract and Glaucoma Patients

Hong, Young Jae; Yun, Yung Soo; Lee, Young Ghee; Kim, Chan Young

Abstract

Alteration of the chemical composition of aqueous humor may be closely related to the occurrence of glaucoma. Comparison of chemical composition of aqueous humor in glaucoma patients with that of the normal eyes is thought to be helpful in searching the pathogenesis and treatment modality of glaucoma. Concentration of 8 chemical components in the aqueous humor of cataract eyes as well as glaucoma eyes was analyzed and the differences between the two groups were searched by the authors. Subjects were 47 eyes of 47 cataract patients and 35 eyes of 32 glaucoma patients. During the operation 0.1-0.2cc of aqueous humor was collected by anterior chamber paracentesis and 10cc of blood was also drawn. In cataract patients, the mean values were Na+;145.2, K+;4.0, Cl-;123.7, HCO3-; 22.9 mEq/l, Ca++;6.6, Mg++;1.7, glucose; 48.2 mg/100 ml and ascorbic acid; 245.5 microgram/ml. In glaucoma patients, the mean values were Na+;142.1, K+;4.0, Cl-;126.0, HCO3-;17.6 mEq/I, Ca++;6.3, Mg++;1.9, glucose; 59.4 mg/100 ml and ascorbic acid; 227.5 microgram/ml. Aqueous glucose concentration was 55% of blood glucose level, and aqueous ascorbic acid concentration was 62 times higher than that in blood. Regarding the eight components in aqueous humor, no significant difference was found between cataract and glaucoma patients. Lack of significant difference in ascorbic acid levels between the two groups was thought to be due to the use of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors prior to glaucoma surgery.