English

Abstract

Purpose: The current study was aimed at finding out the significance of serumelectrolytes and serum calcium levels in the development of senile cataract. Study Design:Case control study. Setting: Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Period: Jan2013 to June 2013. Methods: Total fifty patients with senile cataract and fifty controls wereselected. Clinical history and clinical diagnostic tests were performed by an ophthalmologist.Blood samples were drawn and serum stored at -20o C. Serum potassium and sodiumwere measured by Flame photometry. Serum chloride levels were estimated by quantitativedisplacement of thiocyanate by chloride. The estimation of calcium was done using photometryby CPC method. Statistical analysis was done by Statistical package for social sciences (SPSSversion 16.0). There were 31 females and 19 male (F:M = 1.63:1) patients. In the control group,there were 32 females and 18 males (F:M = 1.77:1). The age was ≥ 40 years in both patientsand control group. Results: Nuclear cataract was the commonest. Among all the analytes,only serum calcium levels were found to be significantly lower in patients (p value less than0.05 as compared to controls). While difference of sodium, potassium and chloride levelsbetween cases and controls was insignificant. (p values 0.49, 0.36, and 0.45 respectively).Conclusions: In Pakistan, serum electrolytes in cataract patients are not significantly differentfrom the controls while serum Calcium of cataract patients is significantly low when comparedwith the control group, indicating the possible role of low calcium level as a risk factor in thedevelopment of senile cataract.