AIM: To investigate the relationship between cytokine level and nitric oxide (NO) content in aqueous humor after intraocular lens implantation. METHODS: All New Zealand rabbits were divided randomly into three groups: (1) control group, (2) extracapsular cataract extraction group (ECCE), (3) extracapsular cataract extraction and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation group (ECCE+IOL). The inflammation of all experimental rabbit eyes, including cornea edema and anterior chamber exudation were observed via zoom-photo slitlamp microscope 1,3,7,14,30 d postoperation. Meanwhile, aqueous humor was drawn for white blood cell (WBC) counting and classifying, and for NO-2／NO-3 and cytokine assay, including interleukin-2(IL-2), tumour necrosis factor-α(TNF-α). Statistics were taken by SPSS softwear. RESULTS: (1) Total WBC in aqueous humor were higher and anterior chamber exudation were more severe in ECCE+IOL group than that in ECCE group and control group. (2) The level of IL-2 and TNF-α and the content of NO-2／NO-3 in aqueous humor of ECCE+IOL group were higher than that in ECCE group and control group 1-14 d postoperation respectively, and it increased to peak value at 3-7 d postoperation and decreased gradually after two weeks postoperation. (3) The change regularity of IL-2, TNF-α and NO-2／NO-3 in each group were basically similar, i.e. when the level of cytokine (IL-2 and TNF-α) was normal, the content of NO-2／NO-3 was normal too, when the level of cytokine (IL-2 and TNF-α) increased, the content of NO-2／NO-3 increased too. CONCLUSION: The intraocular inflammation after ECCE+IOL was more severe than that after simple ECCE. NO, IL-2 and TNF-α play an important role in intraocular inflammation after intraocular lens implantation. The changes of IL-2 and TNF-α level was closely related with NO content in aqueous humor.

Purpose:To investigate gender differences in lens thickness (LT) and central anterior chamber depth (ACD) in normal subjects,and to assess age associated changes in these measures.Methods:The anterior chamber depth (ACD),and lens thickness (LT),of 150 normal subjects (150 eyes) was measured by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT).Gender differences were assessed by independent ttest,and correlation analysis was used to examine the effect of Results:The mean values of ACD and LT were 2.69±0.32mm and 4.85±0.43 mm,respectively.Women had a significantly lower Mean ACD as compared to men (2.56±0.33 mm vs 2.85±0.29 mm; P ＜ 0.05).No statistically significant difference was found in LT between male and female subjects (P＞0.05).Correlation analysis findings suggest that LT increases with age (r=0.83,P ＜ 0.05),and that ACD decreases with age (r=-0.57,P ＜ 0.05).After controlling for LT,no significant correlation was observed between age and ACD (P＞0.05).Conclusion:The ACD of female subjects was,on average,shallower than that of their male counterparts.Aging was associated with increasing LT,and the observed narrowing of ACD with age,might be partially mediated by the increasing LT.