Sickled erythrocytes, hyphema, and secondary glaucoma: V. The effect of vitamin C on erythrocyte sickling in aqueous humor.

In vivo incubations of Hgb SC erythrocytes showed significantly more sickling in anterior chambers characterized by high concentrations of ascorbic acid than in anterior chambers with low concentrations of ascorbic acid (normal guinea pigs compared with scorbutic guinea pigs and normal guinea pigs compared with normal rats). Low concentrations of ascorbic acid, however, did not completely eliminate intracameral sickling. Because acetazolamide raises the concentration of aqueous humor ascorbate, it should be used with considerable discretion when treating hyphema and secondary glaucoma caused by sickle cells. Methazolamide may be more desirable.