Histology of anterior capsule fibrosis following phacoemulsification.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the histology and immunohistochemistry of anterior capsule fibrosis.


METHODS
Department of Ophthalmology and Neurosurgery and Institute of Pathology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.


METHODS
Tissue sections from 3 patients with anterior capsule fibrosis after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation were examined histologically.


RESULTS
The proliferating tissue was devoid of vessels and composed of dense fibrous tissue and numerous activated fibroblasts with contractile capacity (myofibroblasts). No TGF-beta, which is the most important cytokine in modulating myofibroblasts, was present in the fibrotic tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
The absence of the cytokine TGF-beta and inflammatory cells in the proliferating tissue confirms the unique character of the reparative activity within the eye.
Caporossi
A
A
Dipartimento di Scienze Oftalmologiche e Neurochirurgiche, Università degli Studi di Siena, Italy.
Casprini
F
F
Tosi
G M
GM
Balestrazzi
A
A
Stumpo
M
M
Toti
P
P
D000368:Aged; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D007905:Lens Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects*
D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins