Title:Application of Hydrogen in Ophthalmology
Volume: 27
Issue: 5
Author(s): Hiroshi Takahashi*
Affiliation:
- Department of Ophthalmology, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo113-8602,Japan
Keywords:
Ophthalmology, retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury, retinal disease, corneal injury, phacoemulsification, corneal endothelium, cataract
surgery.
Abstract: This report reviews studies on the use of H2 in the ophthalmological field. In retinal diseases, particularly
in a retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury, effects of H2 are remarkable in reducing retinal tissue damage. H2
treatment of corneal damage caused by alkali or UVB suppressed scar formation. The most unique application
of H2 in the ophthalmological field appears to be its use in phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Ultrasound oscillation
produces ·OH through the cavitation phenomenon in the anterior chamber of the eye, which induces
oxidative insults in the corneal endothelium. Phacoemulsification using H2 dissolved in the irrigation solution
significantly suppressed the corneal endothelial damage. The effect of H2 was direct and clear, as H2 instantly
scavenges ·OH produced by ultrasound oscillation in the anterior chamber, thereby suppressing oxidative insults
during the phacoemulsification procedure.