title: Long anterior zonules and pigment dispersion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe pigment dispersion associated with long anterior zonules.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multicenter observational case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients, seven of whom were treated for glaucoma or ocular hypertension, were identified with long anterior zonules and pigment dispersion. Transmission electron microscopy was performed on one anterior capsule specimen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients had anterior zonules that inserted centrally on the lens capsule. Signs of pigment dispersion included corneal endothelial pigmentation, loss of the pupillary ruff, and variable trabecular meshwork pigmentation. Ultrasound biomicroscopy verified the lack of posterior iris insertion and concavity. There was no exfoliation material. Transmission electron microscopy showed zonular lamellae with adherent pigment granules, and no exfoliation material.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long anterior zonules inserted onto the central lens capsule may cause mechanical disruption of the pigment epithelium at the pupillary ruff and central iris leading to pigment dispersion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, USA. smoroi@umich.edu
authors.forename: Sayoko E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Moroi
authors.forename: Kurt K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Lark
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Sieving
authors.forename: Kouros
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nouri-Mahdavi
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schlötzer-Schrehardt
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ritch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005124:Eye Abnormalities / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008022:Ligaments / Q000002:abnormalities*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy