Avaliação do envelhecimento do cristalino em olhos normais

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the changes due to aging in normal human lens density and thickness, and in anterior chamber depth. Methods: Using Scheimpflug image processing, 120 eyes of 60 patients were examined. The patients were divided into 6 groups, namely, Group I, 10 to 19 years old; Group II, 20 to 29 years old; Group III, 30 to 39 years old; Group IV, 40 to 49 years old; Group V, 50 to 59 years old; and Group VI, 60 to 69 years old. Anterior chamber depth, density and thickness of lens were analyzed. The densitometry was performed dividing the lens into five areas: anterior capsular (area 1), anterior cortical (area 2), nuclear (area 3), posterior cortical (area 4) and posterior capsular (area 5). These were correlated with age. Results: The anterior chamber depth decreased and the lens thickness increased with age. The lens density also increased with age, except in area 5, where values decreased. There was a strong positive correlation between increasing age and the density in all lens areas (area 1: r = 0.78, p<0.001; area 2: r = 0.87, p<0.001; area 3: r = 0.88, p<0.001; and area 4: r = 0.70, p<0.001) except in the posterior capsular area, where correlation was negative (area 5: r = -0.62; p<0.001). In addition, there was a significant correlation between increasing age and lens thickness (r = 0.73; p<0.001). Correlation between age and anterior chamber depth (r= -0.34; p<0.001) was negative. The correlation coefficient for lens thickness and anterior chamber depth was also negative (r = -0.60; p<0.001). Conclusions: This study shows changes due to aging in human lens density and thickness as well as in anterior chamber depth using Scheimpflug system. These findings should be considered when studying anticataractogenic drugs, cataractogenic potential of drugs and cataract patients.