Introduction/Objective. Age-related cataract is a significant cause of visual
impairment worldwide. Oxidative damage and the effects of free radical
species are considered important in the etiopathogenesis of cataracts. The
aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidative capacity and oxidative
stress in the aqueous humor according to age and cataracts maturity.
Methods. Clinical and biochemical researches were carried out in 55 patients
with age-related cataract. According to the cataract maturity patients were
classified into incipient (cortical-group C, 18 pts, nuclear-group N, 20
pts) and mature (group M, 17 pts). In order to evaluate the impact of age
patients within each group were divided in: Group I (65-69 years) and Group
II (70 ? years). The antioxidant activity of aqueous humor was measured by
the reduction power (RP) method and the activity of glutathione peroxidase
(GPx) spectrophotometrically. Changes in the concentrations of hydroxyl and
ascorbyl radicals were detected by electron spin resonance spectroscopy.
Results. Both RP and GPx activitiy were significantly (p < 0.001) reduced in
group N compared to group C and in group M compared to group N.
Concentrations of hydroxyl (29.45 ? 1.01% in group C, 38.12 ? 1.29% in group
N and 74.14 ? 2.52% in group M) and ascorbyl radicals (26.12 ? 0.89% in
group C, 41.15 ? 1.39% in group N and 83.56 ? 2.84% in group M) increased
significantly (p < 0.05) with progression of age-related cataract.
Significant negative correlation (r = -0.759, p < 0.05) was determined
between concentrations of hydroxyl radicals and content of GPx. Conclusion.
Our research proved that the level of oxidative stress in the aqueous humor
is significantly affected during aging and cataract progression, The
obtained data support the hypothesis that during aging, depending on the
maturity of the cataract, the antioxidant capacity in the aqueous humor
decreases due to an increase in the concentration of reactive hydroxyl
radicals.