Morphometric evaluation of human lens opacification

Abstract

A method of classifying cataractous changes in excised human lenses, based on separate and independent photographic documentation, with consequent quantitative evaluation of lens opacification is proposed. The degree of lens clouding was evaluated quantitatively by measuring the optical density index and the area of the zones of clouding with certain optical density parameters (equidensities) by use of an image analyser. This technique produced an image in which contrast represented different zones of lens clouding in the frontal projection, and allowed their contribution to the total lens area to be determined. The precise topography of the opacities was established. The classification data obtained for different clinical types of cataracts can be simplified according to the needs of the scientist in his effort to measure clinically or scientifically significant quantitative associations between laboratory measures and cataractous changes.

Mitochondria induce oxidative stress, generation of reactive oxygen species and redox state unbalance of the eye lens leading to human cataract formation: disruption of redox lens organization by phospholipid hydroperoxides as a common basis for cataract disease

“… § p < 0·02. The development of quantitative morphometric criteria for evaluation of the lens opacities was presented 78, 79…”

“…This delay did not influence the results. The development of reliable quantitative morphometric criteria for evaluation of the lens opacities was presented by us 78, 79. All opacities were graded by their area and density, as judged by the degree of clouding.…”

Lipid peroxidation in open‐angle glaucoma

“…To determine quantitatively the degree of the lens opacity by means of microscopy and further photodocumentation, an image af the excised lens was evaluated on 'Leitz' TV analyser (Babizhayev et al 1989). Lens alterations in 27 glaucomatous eyes corresponded to the usual age-related changes.…”

“…Clinical characteristics of the lenses were supported by the opacity examination by a slit-lamp before the extraction procedure. To determine quantitatively the degree of the lens opacity by means of microscopy and further photodocumentation, an image af the excised lens was evaluated on 'Leitz' TV analyser (Babizhayev et al 1989). All the lenses were assigned to one of the following stages of cataract: normal (I): the degree of the lens opacity (a) is about 0% (17 examined lenses); immature (111): 10% < a < 55% (10 examined lenses); almost mature (IV): 55% < a < 64% (7 examined lenses) in line with the clinical grading of clouding.…”

Telomere‐dependent senescent phenotype of lens epithelial cells as a biological marker of aging and cataractogenesis: the role of oxidative stress intensity and specific mechanism of phospholipid hydroperoxide toxicity in lens and aqueous

“…When the level of secondary products not removed into the water‐soluble phase was not significantly increased in UV absorption spectra of lipid extracts of aqueous humor from the cataractous patients (), the distinct increase of the contents of the end fluorescent LPO products expressed in terms of arbitrary fluorescence units/μg phospholipids (PL) was about 2.4‐fold and 4.2‐fold higher correspondingly for immature or mature cataracts when compared to normal lenses (). In the samples of aqueous humor aspirated from donor eyes with normal lens, one in about 42 PL molecules contains a conjugated diene, while in case of immature cataract (IDLC 10–64%) [144,145], the average amount of conjugated dienes reaches one in 19 aqueous PL molecules, whereas in mature cataract (IDLC 64–100%) this estimation averages one conjugated diene per 11 PL molecules. Net concentrations of primary (diene conjugates, phospholipid hydroperoxides) and end (fluorescent) LPO products were found to be increased in aqueous humor of the anterior chamber in cases of cataract irrespective of its genesis comparatively to donor (control) eyes and in line with the maturity stage measured by degree of clouding ().…”