Aging Changes of Lens Physical Properties
The aim of the work is to assess aging changes of lens physical properties.
Materials and Methods. There have been examined the patients aged 57—90 years. 73 lens nuclei with cataract of different maturity degree taken by means of extracapsular cataract extraction have been studied. Before the operation there has been determined relative echodensity of lens according to an original technique and assessed the lens colour and nuclear mass.
Results. Brown colour of the lens nucleus is slightly increasing with years (r=0.4; р<0.05). Mean value of relative lens echodensity is 0.59±0.01. An average mass of lens nucleus is 98.3±1.0 mg, and its average density is 1312.0±12.0 mg/m2. Mature cataract is revealed to be not always hard (r=0.4; р<0.05), i.e. in this case the relation is inverse. When lens density increases, mechanical hardness of its nucleus grows up (r=0.4, р<0.05). At the same time mechanical density of lens nucleus increases with the increase of years (r=0.74, р<0.05). Age is stated not to be a controlling factor in cataract occurring and progressing.
Conclusion. Lens mechanical characteristics depend on its chemical composition, and in aging brown colour of the lens increases, mechanical density of lens nucleus grows up, and vision can change slightly. Cataract maturation and the increase of lens density are chemically different processes and independent of each other.
