Estimation of Post-Mortem Interval from the Changes in Vitreous Biochemistry

Accurate estimation of the post-mortem interval is an important research topic in Forensic Medicine. But unfortunately all methods till now in use to determine the time of death are to a degree unreliable. A vitreous Biochemical change, in the post-mortem period has been researched for many years, but till date it has not been practically used. Various authors have found the co- relation of vitreous humour Na⁺, K⁺ & Ca²⁺ concentration, with increasing post-mortem interval. Some authors have used flame photometry method, while others have used Beckman coulter analyser method. Some authors have found changes in Vitreous Na⁺, K⁺ & Ca²⁺ concentration, between the two eyes of the study subjects and gender variation was also noticed. But still various lacunae exist in the present knowledge because of which estimation of post-mortem interval from vitreous biochemistry is not being practically used till date. So this topic needs further research to bring it in to routine use.