Determination of trace element Ag and Sc concentrations in human cataractous lenses.

For the detection and determination of the trace elements Ag and Sc in mature human cataractous lenses, the methods of neutron activation analysis was used. As regards Ag, attempts made in the past to establish its presence in the cataractous lens had failed, while Sc has not so far been thoroughly investigated. Our study of the two elements was also correlated to the age and sex of the patients with senile cataract. It was found that once senile cataract has fully matured, the determined trace-element concentrations no longer appear to be related to age and/or sex of the patients.