HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gaillard, E. R. Articles by Dillon, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gaillard, E. R. Articles by Dillon, J.

Age-Related Changes in the Absorption Characteristics of the Primate Lens

¹ From the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb; and ² Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, New York.

PURPOSE. To quantitate aging of the primate lens by changes in the absorption characteristics that are related to the yellowing of lens protein.

METHODS. The lenses of lower primates and humans were sectioned anterior to posterior every 0.25 mm, and the UV-visible spectrum of each section was measured to determine the cumulative spectra along the visual axis. The ratio of the absorbance at 320 nm (formed with aging) to the absorbance at 365 nm (present in the young lens) was correlated with the age of the lens.

RESULTS. In the young primate UV-B is transmitted to the retina, and UV-A is transmitted to the nucleus of the lens. By puberty, changes in the absorption characteristics of the lens that are associated with the yellowing of lens protein prevented most of the UV-B from reaching the retina and by the eighth decade, the transmittances at 320 and 365 nm to the nucleus of the lens were approximately 40% and 79%, respectively. A linear relationship between the ratio of absorbance at 320 to 365 nm and age was found for both lower primates and humans to the age of 80 years. This is surprising, because the maximum life span of the lower primate is approximately 35 years, whereas humans may live 100 years.

CONCLUSIONS. These data suggest that the observed spectral changes associated with the yellowing of the lens are the result of a chronological process, such as chemical or photochemical modifications, not biological aging.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K Hayashi and H Hayashi Visual function in patients with yellow tinted intraocular lenses compared with vision in patients with non-tinted intraocular lenses Br. J. Ophthalmol., August 1, 2006; 90(8): 1019 - 1023. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. E. Braunstein and J. R. Sparrow A Blue-Blocking Intraocular Lens Should Be Used in Cataract Surgery Arch Ophthalmol, April 1, 2005; 123(4): 547 - 549. [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. J. Ortwerth, V. Chemoganskiy, V. V. Mossine, and P. R. Olesen The Effect of UVA Light on the Anaerobic Oxidation of Ascorbic Acid and the Glycation of Lens Proteins Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., July 1, 2003; 44(7): 3094 - 3102. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D.-Y. Zhao, S. W. Wintch, I. V. Ermakov, W. Gellermann, and P. S. Bernstein Resonance Raman Measurement of Macular Carotenoids in Retinal, Choroidal, and Macular Dystrophies Arch Ophthalmol, July 1, 2003; 121(7): 967 - 972. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Linetsky, V. G. Chemoganskiy, F. Hu, and B. J. Ortwerth Effect of UVA Light on the Activity of Several Aged Human Lens Enzymes Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., January 1, 2003; 44(1): 264 - 274. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. T. J. M. Berendschot, W. M. R. Broekmans, I. A. A. Klopping-Ketelaars, A. F. M. Kardinaal, G. van Poppel, and D. van Norren Lens Aging in Relation to Nutritional Determinants and Possible Risk Factors for Age-Related Cataract Arch Ophthalmol, December 1, 2002; 120(12): 1732 - 1737. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]