INHIBITION OF STEROID-INDUCED CATARACT IN RAT EYES BY ADMINISTRATION OF VITAMIN-E OPHTHALMIC SOLUTION

The efficacy of a vitamin-E (VE) ophthalmic solution was evaluated on a newly developed rat steroid-induced cataract model. Brown Norway rat s irradiated with 2 Gy X-ray, right eyes only, were divided into 5 gro ups: the control group; 2 steroid (1 mg/kg/day)-treated groups with to pic (Top) and systemic (Sys) administration, and 2 VE-treated groups, 1 with the same treatment as the Top group with the addition of 5% VE twice a day (Top + VE) and 1 with the same treatment as the Sys group with 5% VE twice a day (SYS + VE). The lens changes were documented wi th a Scheimpflug camera and changes in light scattering were evaluated quantitatively. The VE-treated groups (Top + VE and Sys + VE) showed a significant inhibition of the increase in the opaque area compared w ith each of the non-VE-treated groups. The VE ophthalmic solution was strong enough to prevent steroid-induced cataract in rats.