COPPER-METABOLISM IN SCLERAL TISSUE AND THE POSSIBILITY OF ITS CORRECTION IN MYOPIA

Copper measurements in scleral tissue of 14 cadaveric emmetropic eyes and in 10 eyes with myopia of various degrees have-shown a significant reduction of these levels in the equatorial and posterior segments of myopic sclera and abnormal distribution of copper in the tissue, this indicating disordered metabolism of this trace element. A method for drug correction of the detected disorder has been experimentally tried, consisting in administration under the Tenon's capsule of a copper coordination compound on a foam composition base, used for sclera-fortifying injections in progressive myopia. This resulted in elevation of scleral copper concentration, activization of collagen biosynthesis processes, and improvement of scleral tissue elasticity.