Analysis of zonular-free zone and lens size in relation to axial length of eye with age.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the anatomical relationships of the zonular-free zone (ZFZ) of the anterior capsule and crystalline lens diameter in relation to the axial length of the eye with age.


METHODS
Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, and Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.


METHODS
Various ocular structures in 122 eyes obtained post-mortem were measured without prior preparation. The correlation between age, anterior-posterior (A-P) length and globe size, and diameters of the cornea, crystalline lens, and ZFZ were analyzed.


RESULTS
The average A-P globe length, and corneal, lens, and ZFZ diameters were 24.48, 11.67, 9.65, and 6.93 mm, respectively. There was no significant relationship between A-P length and globe size and corneal diameter in different age groups. The ZFZ size varied negligibly among age groups. There was a statistically significant correlation between lens diameter and age (correlation coefficient = 0.2647; P < .01) and lens diameter and A-P globe length (correlation coefficient = 0.3183; P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
When choosing an intraocular lens, one should consider the patient's age and the A-P globe length. Six eyes (5%) showed unusual anterior insertion of zonular attachment, which reminds us to be prudent with a large paracentral capsulorhexis.
Lim
S J
SJ
Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kang
S J
SJ
Kim
H B
HB
Kurata
Y
Y
Sakabe
I
I
Apple
D J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000886:Anthropometry; D005123:Eye / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008022:Ligaments / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged