Cataract and ascorbic acid in the guinea-pig eye

Abstract

THE occurrence of vitamin C in the aqueous humour and lens in relatively large amounts, first noted by Thus Muller et at. [1933; 1934; 1935] found that the vitamin content of both the aqueous humour and lens of cattle and rabbits decreased with age and on the development of cataract. The latter workers as well as Fischer [1934] not only associated the vitamin with the respiratory activity of the lens but suggested that it was most probably synthesized in that organ, at least of young animals. However, although Fischer found that derangements of the respiratory function resulted in the formation of cataracts, he was unable to state whether the disappearance of the vitamin preceded or followed the development of the cataract. The view that the lens could synthesize the vitamin was questioned by