Eyes Of Animals Research Articles

3D printed gelatin methacryloyl hydrogels for perfusion culture of human trabecular meshwork cells and glaucoma studies.

Glaucoma, a progressive eye disease leading to irreversible blindness, currently affects over 70 million people globally. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is implicated in its development. IOP is carefully regulated by the trabecular meshwork (TM). However, studying TM behavior has been limited to traditional tissue culture studies or costly ex vivo cultures of animal and donor eyes. Developing novel functional TM models could enhance cell/tissue behavior understanding and aid therapeutic development for glaucoma. In this study, we 3D printed a simplified and reproducible model of the human TM (hTM) and studied hTM cell behavior under static and dynamic cultures. Gelatin Methacryloyl bioinks proved suitable for printing with viable and proliferative hTM cells expressing crucial marker genes in response to glucocorticoid induction. This, to our knowledge, is the first functional 3D printed hTM model and aims to facilitate TM research. Moreover, this easily reproducible model could also be applicable in the study of numerous other cell types throughout the body.

Low-cost do-it-yourself (DIY) kit for glaucoma procedures.

Surgical skill training in ophthalmology is pivotal for ensuring optimal and safe patient outcomes. Access to traditional training resources such as cadaveric or animal eyes, as well as modern alternatives such as silicone eyeballs and simulators, remains limited, especially in resource-constrained settings. We present a series of innovative and low-cost do-it-yourself (DIY) models for glaucoma training using readily available hospital waste materials. These models allow ophthalmic assistants, fellows, and junior consultants to practice various procedures before transitioning to live patients, thereby enhancing surgical proficiency and minimizing the financial burden on both trainees and training institutions. We were able to practice procedures such as tonometry, central corneal thickness measurement, laser suture lysis, laser iridotomy, anterior chamber decompression, bleb needling, trabeculectomy flap construction, and suturing. By providing a practical and easy training solution, these models have the potential to boost confidence among glaucoma trainees and thus address the growing demand for skilled glaucoma surgeons.

Generalised models of the vertebrate eye.

To present a set of closed-form analytical equations to create a consistent eye model balance based on clinically measured input parameters in a single step. These models complement the existing iterative approaches in the literature. Two different approaches are presented, both considering the cornea and lens as equivalent thin lenses. The first, called the Gaussian model, starts by defining the refractive error as the difference between the axial power (or dioptric distance) and the whole eye power, which can be expanded by filling in the formulas for each power. The resulting equation can be solved for either the refractive error, axial length, corneal power, lens power or the distance between the cornea and the lens as a function of the other four parameters. The second approach uses vergence calculations to provide alternative expressions, assuming that the refractive error is located at the corneal plane. Both models are explored for a biometric range typically found in adult human eyes. The Gaussian and vergence models each instantly balance the input data into a working eye model over the human physiological range and far beyond as demonstrated in various examples. The equations of the Gaussian model are more complicated, while the vergence model experiences more singularities, albeit in trivial or highly unlikely parameter combinations. The proposed equations form a flexible and robust platform to create eye models from clinical data. Possible applications lie in creating animal eye models or providing a generic reference for real biometric data and the relationships between the ocular dimensions.

Metabolic changes in the eye lens in the progression of cataract

Background. Cataract is one of the main causes of decreased visual acuity in the world, and therefore scientists are continuing researches on the mechanisms of development of this ophthalmic pathology.The aim. To study metabolic changes in a cloudy lens using an experimental model.Materials and methods. The study was carried out on adult male Wistar rats (n = 60), which were divided into control (n = 30) and experimental (n = 30) groups. Experimental cataract were simulated by daily ultraviolet irradiation (λ = 300–350 nm) during 6 months for 20 minutes. At the months 2, 4 and 6 of the study, we carried out a biomicroscopic examination of the anterior eye of animals using a slit lamp to monitor the development of cataract. Lenses were collected to determine the content of stearoyl-coenzyme-A desaturases and melatonin using enzyme immunoassay.Results. At the stage of initial cataract, the content of the stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase was statistically significantly lower than the control values by 38 %; at the stage of immature cataract – by 30 %; at the stage of mature cataract – by 15.4 %. It was revealed that at the month 6 of the study, the concentration of melatonin in lens homogenates was 17 % lower when compared with the control. A statistically significant correlation was established between stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase and melatonin (r = 0.32).Conclusion. Melatonin and stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase play an important role in a number of biochemical processes that ensure the proper functioning of the visual analyzer. Changes in the concentration of these biological molecules can play a key role in the pathogenesis of cataract and a number of other ophthalmic diseases

Through an animal's eye: the implications of diverse sensory systems in scientific experimentation.

'Accounting for the sensory abilities of animals is critical in experimental design.' No researcher would disagree with this statement, yet it is often the case that we inadvertently fall for anthropocentric biases and use ourselves as the reference point. This paper discusses the risks of adopting an anthropocentric view when working with non-human animals, and the unintended consequences this has on our experimental designs and results. To this aim, we provide general examples of anthropocentric bias from different fields of animal research, with a particular focus on animal cognition and behaviour, and lay out the potential consequences of adopting a human-based perspective. Knowledge of the sensory abilities, both in terms of similarities to humans and peculiarities of the investigated species, is crucial to ensure solid conclusions. A more careful consideration of the diverse sensory systems of animals would improve many scientific fields and enhance animal welfare in the laboratory.

Enhanced Intrusion of Exogenous Airborne Fine Particles toward Eyes in Humans and Animals: Where Damaged Blood-Ocular Barrier Plays a Crucial Role.

Emerging data suggest a close correlation between ambient fine particle (AFP) exposure and eye disorders and pinpoint potential threats of AFPs to eye health in humans. However, the possible passage (including direct intrusion) and the interactions of AFPs with the eye microenvironment in addition to morphological and physiological injuries remain elusive. To this end, the likely transport of AFPs into the eyes via blood-ocular barrier (BOB) in humans and animals was investigated herein. Exogenous particles were recognized inside human eyes with detailed structural and chemical fingerprints. Importantly, comparable AFPs were found in sera with constant structural and chemical fingerprints, hinting at the translocation pathway from blood circulation into the eye. Furthermore, we found that the particle concentrations in human eyes from patients with diabetic retinopathy were much higher than those from patients with no fundus pathological changes (i.e., myopia), indicating that the damaged BOB increased the possibility of particle entrance. Our diseased animal model further corroborated these findings. Collectively, our results offer a new piece of evidence on the intrusion of exogenous particles into human eyes and provide an explanation for AFP-induced eye disorders, with substantially increased risk in susceptible individuals with BOB injuries.

Quantitative orbital tightening for pain assessment using machine learning with DeepLabCut

Pain assessment in animal models is essential for understanding mechanisms underlying pathological pain and developing effective pain medicine. The grimace scale (GS), facial expression features in pain such as orbital tightening (OT), is a valuable measure for assessing pain in animal models. However, the classical grimace scale for pain assessment is labor-intensive, subject to subjectivity and inconsistency, and is not a quantitative measure. In the present study, we utilized machine learning with DeepLabCut to annotate the superior and inferior eyelid margins and the medial and lateral canthus of the eyes in animals’ video images. Based on the annotation, we quantified the eyelid distance and palpebral fissure width of the animals’ eyes so that the degree of OT in animals with pain could be measured and described quantitatively. We established criteria for the inclusion and exclusion of the annotated images for quantifying OT, and validated our quantitative grimace scale (qGS) in the mice with pain caused by capsaicin injections in the orofacial or hindpaw regions, the Nav1.8-ChR2 mice following orofacial noxious stimulation with laser light, and the oxaliplatin-treated mice following tactile stimulation with a von Frey filament. We showed that both the eyelid distance and the palpebral fissure width were shortened significantly in the animals in pain compared to the control animals without nociceptive stimulation. Collectively, the present study has established a quantitative orbital tightening for pain assessment in mice using DeepLabCut, providing a new tool for pain assessment in preclinical studies with mice.

Training in cataract surgery in Spain: analysis of the results of a survey of the European Board of Ophthalmology in a Spanish cohort

IntroductionA survey conducted by the European Board of Ophthalmology (EBO) revealed significant differences in the surgical training of the ophthalmology residents in Europe, including a disparity between the sexes and a variation in the experience on cataract surgery (CC) between them. This study is about the Spanish sub-cohort of the survey, and its objective is to present and analyse the peculiarities of ophthalmology training in Spain within the European context, as well as discussing ways to harmonise and improve that training throughout the EU. MethodsWe analyse data of the Spanish participants in the EBO exams, defining subgroups by the Autonomous Communities existing in Spain. Results93 of 135 requested participants (68.9%) responded. A 60.2% passed the EBO exam between 2021 and 2022, being mostly women (65.59%) aged 31 years old on average. The 91.4% were right-handed, coming from 13 of the 17 Spanish autonomous communities, although mostly from the Community of Valencia, Madrid and Catalonia. Respectively, 16.1%, 3.2% and 8.7% of the respondents said they have completed 10 or more training sessions on animal eyes, synthetic eyes and through the virtual reality simulator. This training was correlated with greater self-confidence in the management of a posterior capsular tear during surgery (p .025). All respondents manifested to have already performed stages of the CC. The average number of operations reported was 181.6 with regional disparities. A significant difference is observed between the sexes against women (−28.3%, p 0.03). DiscussionOphthalmologists in Spain, much more than other European countries, have greater opportunities for surgical training, with surgical procedures during the residency, that nearly triples those made by the others. Spanish women refer, like their European colleagues, to be in disadvantage in learning opportunities about cataract surgery. The Simulation Based Medical Education (SBME) allows to respond to the training deficit and complements the training on the patient. Although we demonstrate a significant correlation between the number of procedures carried out and self-confidence to operate simple cases, the SBME would be a complementary tool in self-confidence in front of a complication like capsular rupture. ConclusionSpain massively adopts the model named by us "surgery for all”, despite the underrepresentation of women in this area, emphasising a need for cultural change that the SBME could facilitate.

Management of Eye Protrusion in Cats with Acute Trauma

Preventing permanent vision loss and damage to the bulbus oculi in cases of proptosis, which is very important in small animal eye emergencies, and protecting the anatomical structures of the eye. Early intervention is important for protection. In this study, patients with proptosis who had experienced acute trauma. It was aimed to report the treatment and results of cats. Proptosis was diagnosed in 11 of 96 cats (11.45%) who presented to eye emergencies. On examination, all cats had eye. It was determined that the edges of the eyelids were not visible, the bulbus oculi was muffled, the bulbus oculi was hyperemic and edematous, there was a pupillary light reflex in 9 cases, and there was no pupillary light reflex in 2 cases. In the treatment, enucleation was applied in 2 cases, canthotomy and temporary blepharraphy were applied in 3 cases, and temporary blepharraphy was applied in 6 cases. It was determined that there were no postoperative complications in all cases and visual function was observed in all cases except for those who underwent enucleation. As a result, urgent intervention is important to protect the anatomical structures of the eye and maintain visual function in proptosis. The results obtained from this study are satisfactory for cats and their caregivers.

Suprachoroidal gene transfer with nonviral nanoparticles in large animal eyes.

Suprachoroidal nonviral gene therapy with biodegradable poly(β-amino ester) nanoparticles (NPs) provides widespread expression in photoreceptors and retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells and therapeutic benefits in rodents. Here, we show in a human-sized minipig eye that suprachoroidal injection of 50 μl of NPs containing 19.2 μg of GFP expression plasmid caused GFP expression in photoreceptors and RPE throughout the entire eye with no toxicity. Two weeks after injection of 50, 100, or 200 μl, there was considerable within-eye and between-eye variability in expression that was reduced 3 months after injection of 200 μl and markedly reduced after three suprachoroidal injections at different locations around the eye. Reduction of bacterial CpG sequences in the expression plasmid resulted in a trend toward higher expression. These data indicate that nonviral suprachoroidal gene therapy with optimized polymer, expression plasmid, and injection approach has potential for treating photoreceptors throughout the entire retina of a human-sized eye.

Use of discarded corneo-scleral rims to create cornea-like tissue.

Corneal disease is a major cause of blindness. Transplantation of cadaver-derived corneas (keratoplasty) is still the current therapy of choice; however, the global shortage of donor corneas continues to drive a search for alternatives. To this end, biosynthetic corneal substitutes have recently begun to gain importance. Here, we present a novel method for the generation of a cornea-like tissue (CLT), using corneo-scleral rims discarded after keratoplasty. Type I collagen was polymerized within the corneo-scleral rim, which functioned as a 'host' mould, directing the 'guest' collagen to polymerize into disc-shaped cornea-like material (CLM), displaying the shape, curvature, thickness, and transparency of normal cornea. This polymerization of collagen appears to derive from some morphogenetic influence exerted by the corneo-scleral rim. Once the CLM had formed naturally, we used collagen crosslinking to fortify it, and then introduced cells to generate a stratified epithelial layer to create cornea-like tissue (CLT) displaying characteristics of native cornea. Through the excision and reuse of rims, each rim turned out to be useful for the generation of multiple cornea-shaped CLTs. The approach effectively helps to shorten the gap between demand and supply of CLMs/CLTs for transplantation. We are exploring the surgical transplantation of this CLT into animal eyes, as keratoprostheses, as a precursor to future applications involving human eyes. It is possible to use either the CLM or CLT, for patients with varying corneal blinding diseases.

Advanced visual components inspired by animal eyes

Abstract Artificial vision systems pervade our daily lives as a foremost sensing apparatus in various digital technologies, from smartphones to autonomous cars and robotics. The broad range of applications for conventional vision systems requires facile adaptation under extreme and dynamic visual environments. However, these current needs have complicated individual visual components for high-quality image acquisition and processing, which indeed leads to a decline in efficiency in the overall system. Here, we review recent advancements in visual components for high-performance visual processing based on strategies of biological eyes that execute diverse imaging functionalities and sophisticated visual processes with simple and concise ocular structures. This review first covers the structures and functions of biological eyes (i.e., single-lens eyes and compound eyes), which contain micro-optic components and nanophotonic structures. After that, we focus on their inspirations in imaging optics/photonics, light-trapping and filtering components, and retinomorphic devices. We discuss the remaining challenges and notable biological structures waiting to be implemented.

HISTOLOGICAL FEATURES OF ETHAMBUTOL INDUCED MICE EYES: A PRE- EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON TOXIC OPTIC NEUROPATHY CASE

Abstract
 Introduction & Objectives : Toxic Optic Neuropathy (TON) is a visual disease caused by toxic substances damaging the optic nerve. It can be caused by inflammation, infection, or long-term drug use. Over 10% of ethambutol- treated optic neuropathy patients developed major complications. Cellular changes should be observed histologically. This study examines ethambutol-induced mice's eye histology in the fibrous, vasculous, nervous tunica, optical media, and optic nerve tissue.
 Methods : This pre-experimental study used 20 eyes of 10 white mice aged 1-2 weeks weighing 50-65 grams. Group 1 consisted of healthy mice without therapy and group 2 received 35 mg/kgBW/day of ethambutol for 60 days. (group 2). Hematoxylin eosin staining was used to observe binocular experimental animal eyes after enucleation. All measurements used Olympus® CX-20 microscope with 40x objective resolution.
 Results : The average thickness of the cornea was 72.238 ± 10.542 and 60.572 ± 10.25, while the sclera was 336.533±40.851 μm and 331.339±34.219 μm. In groups 1 and 2, no significant changes were foundin the cell layer morphology of both tissues (p > 0.05). Iris, ciliary body, and choroid were observedin the tunica vasculosa. Groups 1 and 2 had eye and ciliary body lengths of 595.148±137.805 μm and 497.705±213.866 μm, respectively, and choroid thicknesses of 161.369±37.925 and 162.605±25.160 (p>0.05). Group 1 had 402.268±55.666 μm retinal thickness in the tunica nervosa, while group 2 had 399.854±27.585 (p>0.05).
 Conclusion : Ethambutol-induced and normal experimental animals had substantial histological differences in optic nerve thickness, but no significant difference in the other ocular structures.

Highly sensitive self-focused ultrasound transducer with a bionic back-reflector for multiscale-resolution photoacoustic microscopy.

In this study, we designed a self-focused ultrasonic transducer made of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). This transducer involves a back-reflector, which is modeled after tapetum lucidum in the eyes of some nocturnal animals. The bionic structure reflects the ultrasound, which passes through the PVDF membrane, back to PVDF and provides a second chance for the PVDF to convert the ultrasound to electric signals. This design increases the amount of ultrasound absorbed by the PVDF, thereby improving the detection sensitivity. Both ultrasonic and photoacoustic (PA) experiments were conduct to characterize the performance of the transducer. The results show that the fabricated transducer has a center frequency of 13.07 MHz, and a bandwidth of 96% at -6 dB. With an acoustic numerical aperture (NA) of 0.64, the transducer provides a lateral resolution of 140µm. Importantly, the bionic design improves the detection sensitivity of the transducer about 30%. Finally, we apply the fabricated transducer to optical-resolution (OR) and acoustic-resolution photoacoustic microscopy (AR-PAM) to achieve multiscale-resolution PA imaging. Imaging of the bamboo leaf and the leaf skeleton demonstrates that the proposed transducer can provide high spatial resolution, better imaging intensity and contrast. Therefore, the proposed transducer design will be useful to enhance the performance of multiscale-resolution PAM.

Novel anti‐evaporative lipid‐based formulation for dry eye disease treatment

Purpose: The majority of dry eye disease (DED) patients suffer from the tear film lipid layer (TFLL) instability issues associated with increased evaporation of water from the ocular surface. Therefore, we developed a liposomal formulation based on selected TFLL lipid classes that would restore the tear film stability and retard the evaporation of the aqueous tear fluid.Methods: The liposomal formulation was prepared by the thin film hydration method and subsequently characterized intermittently by standard techniques for at least 6 months. The mitochondrial metabolic activity (MTT) assay with human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells was utilized to assess the formulation toxicity in vitro. The evaporation resistance properties of the formulation were determined in vitro by the Langmuir trough methods, while a DED cellular model engendered by exposing the HCE cells to benzalkonium chloride (BAC) enabled additional assessment of the in vitro efficacy. In vivo safety was evaluated in rats and rabbits in one‐week studies. The conditions of the animal eyes were assessed by a non‐invasive biomicroscope, an optical coherence tomography, and histological staining of the dissected eyes.Results: The lipid‐based formulation with favourable pharmaceutical and functional properties (e.g., the evaporation resistance, and the promotion of HCE cell recovery after damage) was developed successfully, while also the physical stability of the formulation was found promising. No evidence of toxicity was observed during in vitro and in vivo experiments.Conclusions: The results suggest that the developed formulation is well‐tolerated and possesses properties and a safety profile compatible with ocular administration. Utilized in vitro efficacy models imply that the developed formulation is a promising candidate towards more efficient DED treatment. In vivo efficacy remains to be clarified in future studies.

Офтальмоскопия как метод оценки фармакологической безопасности препаратов

The toxic effects of drugs can affect the anterior segment of the eye, the lens and the poste­rior segment of the eye. Оphthalmoscopy is used аor intravital assessment of the condition of the posterior segment of the eye. Сharacteristic changes, that can be observed by ophthalmoscopy, appear most often after systemic or intraocular use of drugs. However, before interpreting pathological ophthalmoscopic signs in laboratory animals, normal variations in the fundus pattern should be known, since among animal species there is a significant diversity in the structure of the fundus (presence or absence of tapetum, pigmentation, and type of nutrition of the retina). Pathological data obtained during ophthalmoscopy, indicating the toxic effect of the drug, can be expressed in the form of exudative, inflammatory, degenerative and atrophic processes, expansion and tortuosity of the retinal vessels, discoloration of the tapetum, retinal detachment, hemorrhages in the fundus, vascular attenuation of the retina and hyperreflectivity tapetum. Ophthalmoscopic examination is the most important tool for diagnosing pathologies of the posterior segment of the eyes in laboratory animals participating in the study of the pharmacological safety of drugs. Ophthalmoscopy should be carried out by a highly qualified veterinary ophthalmologist at all stages of the preclinical study of the drug.

'Distributed' vision and the architecture of animal visual systems.

More than a century of research, of which JEB has published a substantial selection, has highlighted the rich diversity of animal eyes. From these studies have emerged numerous examples of visual systems that depart from our own familiar blueprint, a single pair of lateral cephalic eyes. It is now clear that such departures are common, widespread and highly diverse, reflecting a variety of different eye types, visual abilities and architectures. Many of these examples have been described as 'distributed' visual systems, but this includes several fundamentally different systems. Here, I re-examine this term, suggest a new framework within which to evaluate visual system distribution in both spatial and functional senses, and propose a roadmap for future work. The various architectures covered by this term reflect three broad strategies that offer different opportunities and require different approaches for study: the duplication of functionally identical eyes, the expression of multiple, functionally distinct eye types in parallel and the use of dispersed photoreceptors to mediate visual behaviour without eyes. Within this context, I explore some of the possible implications of visual system architecture for how visual information is collected and integrated, which has remained conceptually challenging in systems with a large degree of spatial and/or functional distribution. I highlight two areas that should be prioritised in future investigations: the whole-organism approach to behaviour and signal integration, and the evolution of visual system architecture across Metazoa. Recent advances have been made in both areas, through well-designed ethological experiments and the deployment of molecular tools.

A comparison of photographic and spectrometric methods to quantify the colours seen by animal eyes

Abstract Quantifying how colours stimulate animal eyes is an essential first step in many areas of biology, from behavioural and visual ecology to neuroethology. Although multiple methods exist, their relative accuracies remain untested, leaving researchers unsure which methods are most accurate and which might be unacceptably inaccurate. Here, I compare measurements from reflectance spectrometry and four camera‐based techniques to ground‐truth spectroradiometric measurements of radiance, using eight diverse visual systems. Because errors may compound through successive calculations, I calculate not only relative quantum catches but also chroma and colour contrasts. I find that filters mimicking photoreceptor spectral sensitivity curves, through either custom fabrication or weighted additive combinations of bandpass filters (‘computational filters’), as well as reflectance spectrometry, are the most accurate techniques, with most R2 > 0.98. Statistical filters trained on the library of reflectance spectra in the multispectral image calibration and analysis (MICA) toolbox lag behind in accuracy, particularly for dark colours, with R2 values dipping as low as 0.23. However, the performance of these filters is vastly improved (all R2 > 0.96) if one (a) uses the full UV–VIS range of camera and animal vision, even for animals lacking UV photoreceptors and (b) expands the library of training spectra to include simulated low‐reflectance spectra. Statistical filters trained on either a 24‐ or 45‐colour chart (an alternative method offered by the MICA toolbox) vary wildly in accuracy, with R2 values ranging from 0.11 to 0.94, and should not be trusted. For those requiring point measurements only, reflectance spectrometry is highly accurate within the constraints described in the main text. Those using photography and desiring the highest levels of accuracy should opt for custom‐fabricated or computational filters. Statistical filters trained on the MICA toolbox's library of natural spectra can be expected to be reasonably accurate for many combinations of visual systems and stimuli, but only if (a) the full UV–VIS spectrum is used and (b) the training library is expanded to include simulated low‐reflectance spectra. Statistical filters trained on a colour chart are highly unreliable and their use should be discontinued.

All Light, Everywhere? Photoreceptors at Nonconventional Sites.

One of the biggest environmental alterations we have made to our species is the change in the exposure to light. During the day, we typically sit behind glass windows illuminated by artificial light that is >400 times dimmer and has a very different spectrum than natural daylight. On the opposite end are the nights that are now lit up by several orders of magnitude. This review aims to provide food for thought as to why this matters for humans and other animals. Evidence from behavioral neuroscience, physiology, chronobiology, and molecular biology is increasingly converging on the conclusions that the biological nonvisual functions of light and photosensory molecules are highly complex. The initial work of von Frisch on extraocular photoreceptors in fish, the identification of rhodopsins as the molecular light receptors in animal eyes and eye-like structures and cryptochromes as light sensors in nonmammalian chronobiology, still allowed for the impression that light reception would be a relatively restricted, localized sense in most animals. However, light-sensitive processes and/or sensory proteins have now been localized to many different cell types and tissues. It might be necessary to consider nonlight-responding cells as the exception, rather than the rule.

Роль Δ-9-десатуразы в катарактогенезе

Cataract is one of the most common eye diseases and one of the leading causes of blindness in the world, along with glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. In this regard, understanding the molecular mechanism of lens pathology may be useful for the development of alternative treatments and the creation of new drugs that can delay the development of this disease. Aim. To study the content of Δ-9-desaturase and macroelements in the lenses of the eyes against the background of cataract development. Material and methods. The study was conducted on mature male Wistar rats (n = 40), from which two groups were formed: control and experimental. animals of the experimental group modeled age-related cataract using ultraviolet irradiation for 6 months. On the 2nd and 6th month of the experiment, eye lenses were taken to assess the level of desaturases by enzyme immunoassay; macronutrients by mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma. Results. At the stage of initial and mature cataracts, the level of Δ-9-desaturase in the lenses of the eyes of laboratory animals was lower than in intact animals by 53% (p ≤ 0.05) and 53.3% (p ≤ 0.05), respectively. With the progression of cataracts, a violation of macronutrient homeostasis was observed, which was accompanied by an increase in the level of ca and na against the background of a decrease in K, mg and p in the lenses of the eyes. Conclusions. The decrease in the concentration of stearyl-coenzyme-a-desaturase in the lenses of the eyes of laboratory animals during the development of cataracts is of a local protective and compensatory nature, aimed at increasing the “rigidity” of cell membranes against the background of an increase in the intensity of lipid peroxidation and a decrease in the activity of the antioxidant system. Such a change in the properties of cell membranes leads to a violation of their functional abilities, in particular, permeability, and, as a result, disruption of macronutrient homeostasis. Keywords: eye lens, cataract, Δ-9-desaturase, fatty acids, macronutrients