Enhancement of vitamin D metabolites in the eye following vitamin D3 supplementation and UV-B irradiation.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to measure vitamin D metabolites in the aqueous and vitreous humor and in tear fluid, and to determine if dietary vitamin D3 supplementation affects these levels. We also determined if the corneal epithelium can synthesize vitamin D following UV-B exposure. METHODS: Rabbits were fed a control or vitamin D3 supplemented diet. Pilocarpine-stimulated tear fluid was collected and aqueous and vitreous humor were drawn from enucleated eyes. Plasma vitamin D was also measured. To test for epithelial vitamin D synthesis, a human corneal limbal epithelial cell line was irradiated with two doses of UV-B (10 and 20 mJ/cm(2)/day for 3 days) and vitamin D was measured in control or 7-dehydrocholesterol treated culture medium. Measurements were made using mass spectroscopy. RESULTS: 25(OH)-vitamin D3 and 24,25(OH)(2)-vitamin D3 increased significantly following D3 supplementation in all samples except vitreous humor. Tear fluid and aqueous humor had small but detectable 1,25(OH)(2)-vitamin D3 levels. Vitamin D2 metabolites were observed in all samples. Vitamin D3 levels were below the detection limit for all samples. Minimal vitamin D3 metabolites were observed in control and UV-B-irradiated epithelial culture medium except following 7-dehydrocholesterol treatment, which resulted in a UV-B-dose dependent increase in vitamin D3, 25(OH)-vitamin D3 and 24,25(OH)(2)-vitamin D3. CONCLUSIONS: There are measurable concentrations of vitamin D metabolites in tear fluid and aqueous and vitreous humor, and oral vitamin D supplementation affects vitamin D metabolite concentrations in the anterior segment of the eye. In addition, the UV exposure results lead us to conclude that corneal epithelial cells are likely capable of synthesizing vitamin D3 metabolites in the presence of 7-dehydrocholesterol following UV-B exposure.

Early diagnosis of ocular hypertension using a low-intensity laser irradiation test.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the potential use of low-intensity laser irradiation (LILI) as a diagnostic tool for identifying hypertensive eyes at risk of glaucoma. BACKGROUND DATA: The diagnosis of early-stage ocular hypertension is particularly difficult to establish. METHODS: This study of a case series included 123 healthy subjects with normal vision. The intraocular pressure (IOP) was determined before (baseline) and 30 min after a 30-sec irradiation of the limbus area with laser light (780 nm; 7.5 mW; 292 Hz modulation). RESULTS: Baseline IOP was >21 mm Hg in 44 of 211 eyes (20.9%), consistent with ocular hypertension. LILI decreased the mean IOP by 6.2 mm Hg (-25.7%; p < 0.001; paired t test) in these eyes. The remaining 167 eyes (79.1%) exhibited a normotensive IOP