Vitamin C concentration of Aqueous humor in senile cataract

ABSTRACT

Oxidative agents like ultraviolet are one of the important cause of cataract and vitamin C is an important water soluble antioxidant agent in the aqueous humor. This study aimed to evaluate the concentration of vitamin C in the aqueous and plasma of patients with senile cataract. In a descriptive cross- sectional study on 85 patients [41 men and 44 women] admitted for cataract surgery, aqueous [0.2 ml] and blood [5ml] were sampled just before operation under general anesthesia from anterior chamber and vein, respectively. Spectrophotometer measured the concentration of vitamin C in both samples. The mean age was 64.3 +/- 11.1 years. Aqueous and plasma concentration of vitamin C was 4.29 +/- 1.11 mg/dl and 0.77 +/- 0.0332 mg/dl, respectively. The differences were statistical significant [P almost equal to 0]. Vitamin C of aqueous were equal in both sexes, but vitamin C of plasma in women were higher than men [P= 0.043]. The concentration of vitamin C showed no relation to the type of cataract. Vitamin C of aqueous and plasma in senile cataract are lower than normal. More study is recommended for evaluating preventive effect of high vitamin C diets or supplements