Presbyopia and velocity of sound in the lens.

The elastic properties of lens matter change with age and this contributes to presbyopia. The changes in elasticity of lens matter could be the result of a change in water and soluble proteins (1) or a change in lens fiber cytoskeleton and membranes (2). If it is caused by (1) then the velocity of sound in the lens should change with age. If it is caused by (2) the velocity of sound in the lens will not change. Using the technique of continuous ultrasonographic biometry, the velocity of sound in clear lenses was measured in vivo in a group of 24 healthy subjects aged 15 to 45 years with a visual acuity of 6/6 or better. In this group maximum accommodative amplitude decreased with age. It was found that, despite the occurrence of presbyopia, the velocity of sound did not change with age. Our results support the hypothesis that age-related changes in lens fiber cytoskeleton and membranes are responsible for the change in elastic properties of lens matter and thus contribute to presbyopia.