AQUEOUS-HUMOR AND CRYSTALLINE LENS CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH ULTRAVIOLET-RADIATION OR MECHANICAL DAMAGE TO CORNEAL EPITHELIUM IN FRESH-WATER RAINBOW-TROUT EYES

In vivo irradiation of the eye of the rainbow trout with moderately hi gh doses of W-B (0.75 to 1.5 J cm(-2)) can produce corneal damage and persistent cataractous changes in the anterior part of the crystalline lens within hours. Irradiation with W-C (0.25 J cm(-2)) also produces corneal damage but only temporary lens changes after 2-3 days. Catara ctous changes can also occur following mechanical damage to the cornea ex vivo, and develop concurrently with decreases in the osmolarity of the aqueous humour of at least 30 mOsm 1(-1) change in aqueous humour osmolality was detected at the onset of cataracts associated with UVB irradiation in vivo. The UVB-associated anterior cataracts are thus n ot obviously caused by aqueous humour changes although, when there is concurrent mechanical damage with the ultraviolet radiation, hypo-osmo tic changes may contribute to the cataract formation. (C) 1997 Elsevie r Science S.A.