Summary
Concentrations of the metabolites glucose, lactate, pyruvate, and urea were determined in human tear fluid. Collection of the tears in glass capillaries, without mechanical irritation, permitted the estimation of naturally occurring levels of these metabolites. Glucose concentrations were very low, also in diabetics with high blood glucose levels. Lactate was present at higher levels and pyruvate and urea in about the same concentrations as normally for blood. Collection of the tears with filter paper strips as absorbent material caused slight epithelial damage and consequently a loss of the barrier function of the epithelium. In filter paper eluates glucose concentrations were found to be much higher, especially in diabetics with high blood glucose levels. Lactate and pyruvate concentrations were not influenced, whereas the urea concentrations decreased. The value of clinical tear glucose tests is discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Balik, J.: Über die Ausscheidung des Harnstoffes in die Tränen. Acta Ophthal. 37, 103–111 (1959)
Balik, J.: Methodische Bemerkung zur biochemischen Tränenuntersuchung. Acta Ophthal. 43, 190–198 (1965)
Bleeker, G.M., Van Haeringen, N.J. and Glasius, E.: Urea and the vitreous barrier of the eye. Exp. Eye Res. 7, 30–36 (1968)
Daubs, J.G.: A review of clinical tear glucose testing materials and methods. J.Am. Optom. Assoc. 45, 1085–1090 (1974)
Gasset, A.R., Braverman, L.E., Fleming, M.C., Arky, R.A. and Alter, B.R.: Tear glucose detection of hyperglycemia. Am. J. Ophthal. 65, 414–420 (1968)
Giardini, A.: Recherches sur le taux de glucose dans les larmes chez les sujets normaux et diabetiques. Boll. d'Oc. 27, 585–599 (1948). Report in. Arch. Ophthal. (Paris) 9, 686 (1949)
Giardini, A., Roberts, J.R.E.: Concentration of glucose and total chloride in tears. Brit. J. Ophthal. 34, 737–745 (1950)
Kahán, I.L. and Erdei, Z.: On the keto acid content of tears. Ophthalmologica 164, 71–72 (1972)
Kahán, I.L. and Ottovay, E.: Lactate dehydrogenase of tears and corneal epithelium. Exp. Eye Res. 20, 129–133 (1975)
Kilp, H.: Über die Konzentrationen einiger Metabolite in den vorderen Augenabschnitten im Modellversuch bei Kaninchen. Inaugural-Dissertation, Marburg (1971)
Kilp, H. and Heisig, B.: Veränderung der Glucose- und Lactatkonzentration in Tränenflüssigkeit des Kaninchens auf mechanische Reizung und Kontaktlinsentragen. Albrecht v. Graefes Arch. klin. exp. Ophthal. 193, 259–267 (1975)
Lax, F.: Über die Spiegel einiger Metaboliten in der Tränenflüssigkeit. Inaugural-Dissertation, Marburg (1969)
Lewis, J.G.: Tear test for glucose. Brit. Med. J. 1957 I, 585
Lewis, J.G., Stephens, P.J.: Tear glucose and diabetes. Brit. J. Ophthal. 42, 754–758 (1958)
Michael, D., Vancea, P., Zolog, N.: Sur l'elimination lacrymale du glucose chez les diabetiques. C.R. Soc. Biol. Paris 125, 194–195 (1937)
Motoji, K.: The glucose content of tear fluid in normal and diabetic subjects (Japanese). Jap. J. Clin. Ophthal. 25, 1945–1950 (1971). Abstract in: Exerpta Medica, Ophthalmol. Section 12, 27, 200 (1973)
Praus, R., Brettschneider, I., Havránek, M., Krejci, L.: Penetration of radioactive sulphate and glucose from hydrophilic gel contact lenses into the eye of the rabbit. Ophthal. Res. 6, 291–300 (1974)
Reim, M., Cattepoel, H., Bittmann, K., Kilp, H.: Methodische und physiologische Aspekte bei der statistischen Auswertung von Metabolitspiegeln in verschiedenen Kompartimenten der vorderen Augenabschnitte. Albrecht v. Graefes Arch. klin. exp. Ophthal. 177, 355–368 (1969)
Reim, M., Lax, F., Lichte, H., Turss, R.: Steady state levels of glucose in the different layers of the cornea, aqueous humor, blood and tears in vivo. Ophthalmologica 154, 39–50 (1967)
Ridley, F.: The intraocular pressure and drainage of the aqueous humor. Brit. J. Exp. Path. 11, 217–240 (1930)
Thaysen, J.H., Thorn, N.A.: Excretion of urea, sodium, potassium and chloride in human tears. Am. J. Physiol. 178, 160–164 (1954)
Van Haeringen, N.J., Glasius, E.: The origin of some enzymes in tear fluid, determined by comparative investigation with two collection methods. Exp. Eye, Res. 22, 267–272 (1976)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
van Haeringen, N.J., Glasius, E. Collection method dependant concentrations of some metabolites in human tear fluid, with special reference to glucose in hyperglycaemic conditions. Albrecht von Graefes Arch. Klin. Ophthalmol. 202, 1–7 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00496763
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00496763