Degenerated lens epithelial cells in rabbit and human eyes after intraocular lens implantation.
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.
Saika
S
S
Department of Ophthalmology, Wakayama Medical College, Japan.
Miyamoto
T
T
Kimura
M
M
Ohmi
S
S
Ohkawa
K
K
Kawashima
Y
Y
Ohnishi
Y
Y
Ooshima
A
A
Yamanaka
A
A
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