193 nm ArF excimer laser induced changes in aqueous humor of rabbit's eyes

ABSTRACT

The changes in aqueous humor of rabbits' eyes after land 4 weeks of corneal photoablation with 193 nm argon fluoride [ArF] excimer laser with two different intensities [300 mJ/cm[2] and 500 mJ/cm[2]] were investigated. In the 1[st] group the right eyes were submitted to 300 mJ/cm[2] and left for one week, the 2[nd] group was submitted to 300 mJ/cm[2] and left for 4 weeks, the 3[rd] group was submitted to 500 mJ/cm[2] and left for one week and finally the 4[th] group was submitted to 500 mJ/cm[2] and left for 4 weeks. The left eyes from each group were used as control. Measurements of the total protein content, the refractive index [RI], sodium dodecyle sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis [SDS PAGE], column chromatography and ultraviolet spectroscopy profiles for aqueous humor were carried out. Non significant changes in the protein content and the refractive index [RI] were observed after 1 week of treatment with 300 mJ/cm[2]. All measurements detected significant changes after 4 weeks of treatment with 300 mJ/cm[2] and after 1 and 4 weeks of laser treatment with 500 mJ/cm[2]. The ultraviolet absorption spectrum revealed apparent depletion in ascorbic acid concentration. It was concluded that, ArF excimer laser [193 nm] leads to change in aqueous humor and formation of new protein with different molecular weights accompanied with a loss and oxidation of ascorbic acid and formation of dehydroascorbic acid