MINIREVIEW

UV Rays, the Prooxidant/Antioxidant Imbalance in the Cornea and Oxidative Eye Damage

J. ČEJKOVÁ¹, S. ŠTÍPEK², J. CRKOVSKÁ², T. ARDAN¹, J. PLÁTENÍK², Č. ČEJKA1,
A. MIDELFART³

¹Department of Eye Histochemistry and Pharmacology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, and ²First Institute of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic, and ³Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway

Received October 15, 2002
Accepted February 12, 2003

Summary
In this minireview, the factors involved in the development of corneal injury due to an increased amount of UVB rays are summarized. Experimental studies have shown that an increased number of UVB rays leads to a profound decrease in corneal antioxidants (high molecular weight, antioxidant enzymes as well as low molecular weight, mainly ascorbic acid) so that a prooxidant/antioxidant imbalance appears. The decrease of corneal antioxidant protective mechanisms results in oxidative injury of the cornea and causes damage of the inner parts of the eye by UVB rays and by reactive oxygen species generated by them.

Key words
Cornea • UV rays • Prooxidant/antioxidant imbalance