ABSTRACT
Purpose: The current study was aimed at finding out the significance of serum electrolytes and serum calcium levels in the development of senile cataract
Study Design: Case control study
Setting: Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
Period: Jan 2013 to June 2013
Methods: Total fifty patients with senile cataract and fifty controls were selected. Clinical history and clinical diagnostic tests were performed by an ophthalmologist. Blood samples were drawn and serum stored at -20o C. Serum potassium and sodium were measured by Flame photometry. Serum chloride levels were estimated by quantitative displacement of thiocyanate by chloride. The estimation of calcium was done using photometry by CPC method. Statistical analysis was done by Statistical package for social sciences [SPSS version 16.0]. There were 31 females and 19 male [F: M = 1.63: 1] patients. In the control group, there were 32 females and 18 males [F: M = 1.77: 1]. The age was >/= 40 years in both patients and control group
Results: Nuclear cataract was the commonest. Among all the analytes, only serum calcium levels were found to be significantly lower in patients [p value less than 0.05 as compared to controls]. While difference of sodium, potassium and chloride levels between cases and controls was insignificant. [p values 0.49, 0.36, and 0.45 respectively]
Conclusions: In Pakistan, serum electrolytes in cataract patients are not significantly different from the controls while serum Calcium of cataract patients is significantly low when compared with the control group, indicating the possible role of low calcium level as a risk factor in the development of senile cataract