Abstract
Lenses used in this study were, for the most part, obtained at cataract operations. A few, however, were obtained at autopsy and in one instance a dislocated lens which was apparently perfectly normal was obtained at operation. Calcium was determined by the method of Fiske and Logan, 1 phosphorus by a modification of the method of Fiske and Subbarow, 2 and cholesterol by a modification of the method of Bloor, Pelkan and Allen. 3 The weight of 46 lenses studied ranged from 0.1046 to 0.3606 gm. with an average of 0.2237 gm.
Cholesterol determinations on the hot alcohol extract of 42 lenses ranged from 282 to 717 mg. %. Only one fell below 300 mg. % (supposedly normal) and only one above 700 mg. % (a case of immature cataract. All the values are at a much higher level than in normal blood but, with few exceptions, appear to bear no definite relation to age, sex, clinical findings of eye and other conditions, or to the values for calcium and phosphorus. In no case, however, where the lens was supposedly normal (5 cases) did the cholesterol reach a value of 500 mg. %.
Calcium and phosphorus were determined on the residue remaining after 24 hours' continuous extraction of the macerated lens in hot refluxing alcohol.
Values for calcium in 44 lenses ranged from zero in one case of immature cataract to 14,072 mg. % in a case of a dislocated and calcified lens obtained at operation. In 8 lenses supposedly normal, 7 of which were obtained at autopsy and one at operation because it had been dislocated, the calcium ranged from 8.9 to 17.6 mg. %.
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