• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.91-97
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• 2012

Purpose: This purpose of study is to investigate the effect of UV-A-blocking or brown-tinted ophthalmic lens against A2E photooxidation which known as one of the etiologies of AMD(Age-related macular degenaration). Methods: The photooxidation of A2E, synthetic product of two molecules of all-trans-retinal and ethanolamine, was induced by the exposure to blue light (420~470 nm, $94mW/cm^2$) for 3 minutes. The inhibitory effect of UVblocking or brown-tinted ophthalmic lens against A2E photooxidation was evaluated by UV absorbance and HPLC analysis of remained A2E after the exposure to blue light. Results: UV-blocking ophthalmic lens could not inhibit A2E photooxidation induced by blue light irradiation. There was no difference in A2E photooxidation in the presence of brown-tinted ophthalmic lens to block 15% of visible ray, however, those lenses blocking 55% or 86% of visible ray showed the inhibitory effect of A2E photooxidation as 9.98% and 16.55%, respectively. By HPLC analysis, the amount of residual A2E which was not blocked by any lens was $199.29{\pm}26.53{\mu}M$, however, the inhibitory effect against A2E photooxidation was shown in the presence of brown-tinted lens. The remained A2Es were $264.58{\pm}31.91{\mu}M$ and $402.93{\pm}28.68{\mu}M$ in brown-tinted lenses of 55% and 86% blocking visible ray, respectively. However, there was no inhibitory effect against A2E photooxidation in the case of UV-blocking lens by HPLC analysis. Conclusions: In this study, brown-tinted ophthalmic lens was confirmed to have the inhibitory effect against the photooxidation of A2E, a causing substance of AMD onset.