title: Degenerated lens epithelial cells in rabbit and human eyes after intraocular lens implantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of lens epithelial cells (LECs) in posterior capsule opacification.
  
  
  METHODS
  Departments of Ophthalmology and Pathology, Wakayama Medical College, Department of Anatomy, Kansai Shinkyu College, and Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe Kaisei Hospital, Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the presence of degenerated LECs on the capsules of the eyes of rabbits and a patient after intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Phacoextraction of a crystalline lens and IOL implantation were done in 5 albino rabbits under general anesthesia. The animals were killed after 2 months. Lens capsules were removed and fixed. During vitreous surgery, a lens capsule with an IOL was removed from a patient. Ultrathin sections of specimens were studied by transmission electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Presumed LECs proliferated between the posterior capsule and the IOL in association with collagenous matrix. Debris from the degenerated cells and destroyed intracellular organelles was also seen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lens epithelial cells proliferating on the posterior capsule cannot survive indefinitely.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Wakayama Medical College, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saika
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohmi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohkawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawashima
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohnishi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ooshima
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamanaka
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011817:Rabbits