The contents of mineral elements and amino acids in the hydrolysate of the traditional Chinese mineral medicine nacre have been determined. It has long since been proved by the practice of doctors of traditional Chinese medicine that pearl can be used to treat eye diseases. Based on such an understanding, a study is made of the influence of the said medicine on the incidence of myopia. First a form-sense-deprived model (FDM) for chicks is developed and the effect of the said medicine on the elongation of axis oculi is determined with an Abbe's comparator and an A-mode ultrasound instrument. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitric oxide synthetase (NOS), and the content of nitric oxide (NO) in the retino-pigmental epithelium choroid homogenate are also analysed. The role of the said traditional Chinese mineral medicine in preventing and treating myopia is explained with respect to the above findings. The results obtained will provide a basis for using nacre, a traditional Chinese mineral medicine, to prevent and treat myopia.
Copyright 2001 Academic Press.