Nitric oxide levels in the aqueous humor in cataract patients

Purpose: To determine the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the clinical manifestations of cataract in different age and etiological groups. Setting: Multicenter study, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. Methods: Aqueous humor samples were obtained from 114 cataract patients in different etiological and age groups (eg, juvenile, traumatic, and age-related cataract). Using chemiluminescence assay, NO was detected through the light generated by ozone and NO interaction. The amount of NO production was calculated and compared among groups. The results were correlated with patient age. Results: The NO levels in aqueous humor were highest in the 12 patients with traumatic cataract and lowest in the 15 patient with juvenile cataract and lowest in the 15 patients with juvenile cataract (47.59 μmol/L ± 12.81 [SD] and 7.66 ± 2.62 μmol/L, respectively; P < .001). Aqueous humor NO levels were correlated with age and were highest in patients older than 80 years (mean 38.78 ± 6.29 μmol/L) and in those with mature cataract (mean 40.15 ± 6.15 μmol/L) (P <.05). Conclusions: The NO levels in the aqueous humor increased with age and traumatic events. The results suggest that NO could be a risk factor in cataract formation.