Medicolegal significance of early postmortem changes in intraocular pressure, fundus and electrolyte concentrations in the vitreous humour

ABSTRACT

This work gives light on the ocular changes in the early postmortem period. These changes included the intraocular pressure [I.O.P], fundus and electrolytes in the vitreous humour. Fifty corpses with an accurately known time of death were examined in Al-Zahraa University Hospital. The corpses were divided according to the cause of death into pathology group and trauma group. In the pathology group, there was a slow gradual decline in the I.O.P, while in the trauma group, a rapid sharp decrease in the I.O.P was recorded. Fundus examination 30 minutes after death showed a markedly pale optic disc. After one hour, all the retina and the macula became pale and oedematous. Two hours after death, there was a rise in the vitreous potassium, while sodium, chlorides and calcium showed a slight reduction in their vitreous concentrations. It is suggested that, evaluation of the postmortem changes of I.O.P, fundus and electrolyte concentrations in the vitreous humour may be of great value in determining the time of death