Changes of Water Content in Senile Cataractous Lenses

ABSTRACT

Changes in the state of water in senile cataractous lenses at the different stages of the maturation of cataract were investigated. Senile cataracts of 34 eyes were divided into 4 groups according to degree of lens opacity. Intracapsular cataract extraction was performed and wet weight, dry weight and water content of the cataractous lenses were measured. In incipient and immature cataract, wet weight was 197.4 +/- 20.6mg, dry weight 66.2 +/- 8.2mg and water content 130.6 +/- 15.2mg(66.2%). In mature and hyper mature cataracts, wet weight was 240.8 +/- 39.3mg, dry weight 53.4 +/- 8.3mg and water content 176.3 +/- 37.5mg(73.2%). Wet weight and water content were significantly increased and dry weight was significantly decreased with the maturation of cataract. Sexual differences of wet weight, dry weight and water content were not significant.