Nitric oxide levels in the aqueous humor in cataract patients.

Abstract 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 patients with juvenile cataract (47.59 μmol/L ± 12.81 [SD] and 7.66 ± 2.62 μmol/L, respectively; P P 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.