MONITORING INVIVO LENS CHANGES - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY WITH BIOCHEMICAL-ANALYSIS OF PROTEIN AGGREGATION

In this study the AA attempted to evaluate the relationship between le ns optical density and lens fluorescence determined in vivo, with some specific (in vitro) biochemical changes occurring during cataract dev elopment. Special attention has been given to the comparison between d iabetic and non diabetic cataracts. Prior to surgery all lenses were a nalysed by Scheimpflug photography to evaluate the topography of opaci ties and fluorescence distribution. Individual lenses were separated i nto cortex and nucleus and the amount of high molecular weight (HMW) p rotein aggregates was determined by FPLC (Fast Performance Liquid Chro matography). The results found in this study have shown that, as it wo uld be expected, diabetic cataractous lenses present higher fluorescen ce levels than senile cataracts. It has also been shown that the incre ase in lens optical density, determined by Scheimpflug photography is clearly related to the increase in the amount of HMW-aggregates. Furth ermore, in diabetic cataracts, a good correlation between protein aggr egation and lens fluorescence determined in vivo has been found. Thus, it seems that in diabetic cataracts chemical or metabolic mechanisms leading to the production of fluorescent chromophores may be related t o protein aggregation and therefore to the major processes involved in cataract development.