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Study finds racial differences in corneal oxidative metabolism
Arch Ophthalmol. 2011;129(7):849-854.
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Ocular oxygen levels for different racial groups may reflect a significant variance in corneal oxidative metabolism, a study found.
“The significantly higher PO2 detected in African American patients is likely to reflect an important, underlying physiologic difference. The amount and distribution of oxygen in the eye are an indication of the metabolic activity of the ocular tissues,” the study authors wrote, noting that increased oxygen may amplify oxidative stress, cell damage, IOP and the risk for glaucoma.
The analysis included 48 eyes with no prior ocular surgery and 24 with previous glaucoma surgery, comparing PO2 distribution in different regions. An optical oxygen sensor (Oxylab PO2 optode, Oxford Optronix) measured all eyes near the central corneal endothelium, in the mid-anterior chamber and in the anterior chamber angle.
Patients undergoing cataract extraction were also measured at the anterior lens surface and in the posterior chamber behind the iris.
African Americans displayed higher PO2 levels at all five locations compared with Caucasians, and age adjustments further increased this association. Moreover, racial adjustments demonstrated that age was associated with increased PO2 beneath the central cornea and in the mid-anterior chamber, suggesting the possibility of age-related decline in corneal oxidative metabolism, the study authors wrote.