COPPER, LEAD, CADMIUM AND CALCIUM IN CATARACTOUS LENSES

Lenticular copper, lead, cadmium and calcium levels were measured usin g atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 9 normal and 37 cataractous h uman lenses. The nuclear parts of the lenses were used for the study i n both groups. The lenticular deposition of these four elements in cat aract was statistically significant. In the cataractous group, males h ad higher levels of cadmium compared to females. No lead was detected in normal lenses. The calcium content was significantly higher in cort ical cataract whereas the other elements were not correlated with the types of cataract.