Age-related changes in human ciliary muscle.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the role of the ciliary muscle in accommodation and presbyopia.


METHODS
Sixteen pairs of eyes from donors aged 1 to 107 years were treated with atropine or pilocarpine and then processed for light microscopy. Seven pairs were analyzed for treatment effects, including morphometric measurements of muscle dimensions, muscle fiber group area, and the percentage of connective tissue.


RESULTS
The ciliary muscle shortened in length in response to drug treatment at all ages. The ciliary muscle of older subjects contained greater amounts of connective tissue and was shorter, wider and the internal apical edge moved forward.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms previous reports that the human ciliary muscle retains its ability to contract throughout the lifespan. However, the ciliary muscle also displayed age-related changes, which may be partly accounted for by the forces exerted from the aging lens and zonules.
Pardue
M T
MT
School of Optometry, University of Waterloo, Canada. pardue@research.hines.med.va.gov
Sivak
J G
JG
D000065:Accommodation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002102:Cadaver; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005125:Eye Banks; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D008916:Miotics / Q000494:pharmacology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009184:Mydriatics / Q000494:pharmacology; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000494:pharmacology
D008916:Miotics; D009184:Mydriatics; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010862:Pilocarpine; D001285:Atropine