The aim of this study was to identify and determine differences in surface tension (ST) of aqueous humor (AH) in patients with cataract, glaucoma and Fuchs endothelial dystrophy (FED). Two hundred and two samples of AH were analyzed (control n = 22; cataract n = 56; glaucoma n = 81; and n = FED 43). Patients with previous history of anterior segment surgery, anterior segment pathology or intraocular injections were excluded from the study. Different types of glaucoma were identified, cataracts were graded using total phaco time data during surgery and clinical severity of FED was assessed by clinical examination. Around 150 microliters AH were obtained during the first step of a surgical procedure, lensectomy, phacoemulsification, nonpenetrating deep sclerotomy (NPDE) and Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). A pendant drop-based optical goniometer OCA-15 (Dataphysics, Filderstadt, Germany) was used to measure surface tension. Mean ST was 65.74 ± 3.76 mN/m, 63.59 ± 5.50 mN/m, 64.35 ± 6.99 mN/m, and 60.89 ± 3.73 mN/m in control, cataract, glaucoma and FED patients respectively. Statistically significant differences between FED and control group were found (p < 0.001). Lens condition, cataract maturity, age, and gender did not show influence in ST. ST of AH is significantly decreased in FED patients independently from age and lens condition. These findings may aid to the understanding of the physiopathology of the disease.
Keywords: Fuchs endothelial dystrophy; aqueous humor; biophysical properties; open angle glaucoma; surface tension.