Lens epithelial cell proliferation onto the intraocular lens optic in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
To determine how lens epithelial cells (LECs) proliferate onto an intraocular lens (IOL) after extracapsular cataract surgery.


METHODS
Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.


METHODS
We cultured the capsular bags retaining LECs of eight human eye-bank eyes and six rabbit eyes that had had extracapsular lens extraction with in-the-bag implantation of a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) IOL and a PMMA ring. Cell proliferation onto the IOL optic was monitored by a time-lapse video system.


RESULTS
Cells proliferated onto the IOL optic via the anterior capsulotomy margin, the inner surface of the anterior capsule, and the posterior capsule. They formed cell sheets similar to the membranes observed in clinical cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Since the cells proliferated from the anterior capsule as well as from the posterior capsule onto the IOL optic, the membranes observed clinically on the IOL optic may be LEC sheets.
Nagamoto
T
T
Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Hara
E
E
Kurosaka
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D008875:Middle Aged; D011817:Rabbits
D008768:Methylmethacrylates