Estimation of serum calcium and phosphorus levels in male cataract patients: A case control study

Abstract

Introduction: Cataract is vision-impairing disease marked by incremental, progressive lens thickening. The lens is composed of G-protein receptors that are linked to intracellular calcium release. Through the activation of calcium dependent proteases, elevated calcium levels can indicate metabolic disturbances and cell component disruption. The Na+-K+ ATPase pump’s activity in maintaining a low cytoplasm Ca2+ concentration increases calcium levels significantly, causing rapid lens fibre breakdown, uncontrolled protein breakdown, cell swelling, and opacification. Phosphorus is involved in membrane permeability of the lens. The objective of the present study was to estimate and compare the serum calcium and phosphorus levels in males diagnosed with cataract and without cataract. Methodology: A total of 110 subjects were studied, of which 55 were diagnosed cataract patients and 55 were controls with no signs of cataract on ophthalmologic examination. Serum calcium and phosphorus were estimated. The obtained data was analysed statistically. Independent t test was used to associate the parameters. Results: In our study we found significantly increased levels of serum calcium in cataract patients (p<0.05) as compared to controls. Serum phosphorus concentration in cataract patients (p<0.05) was significantly increased as compared to controls.