Publication
Title
In vitro study on the closure of posterior capsulorrhexis in the human eye
Author
Abstract
PURPOSE. An unexplained clinical observation is the development of posterior capsular opacification (PCO), even when the central part of the posterior capsule has been removed. The purpose of this study was to investigate in vitro the mechanisms involved in the closure of the posterior capsulorrhexis in a capsular bag model. METHODS. A sham extracapsular cataract extraction was performed in 71 human donor eyes, followed by a central posterior capsulorrhexis 3 to 4 Hurt in diameter. Each capsular bag was pinned to a PMMA ring with a central hole of 5 mm and placed in a Petri dish. The capsular bags were cultured and monitored for 3 to 7 weeks by phase-contrast microscopy, after which they were prepared for light, transmission, and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS. Proliferation of lens epithelial cells (LECs) within the posterior rhexis area was found in 22 cases (31%) of which 3 had a complete closure. In the absence of the posterior capsule, a monolayer of LECs was observed growing on a basal lamina, consisting of loosely arranged fibers. Further observations on noncultured capsular bags revealed that this basal lamina corresponds to the anterior hyaloid membrane. CONCLUSIONS. This study corroborates the clinical observation that LECs that remain after cataract extraction have the potential to proliferate, in the absence of their natural substrate, on a basal lamina of vitreous origin and are able to close the posterior capsulorrhexis partially or totally in approximately one third of cases.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Investigative ophthalmology and visual science. - St. Louis, Mo.
Publication
St. Louis, Mo. : 2003
ISSN
0146-0404
DOI
10.1167/IOVS.02-0525
Volume/pages
44 :5 (2003) , p. 2076-2083
ISI
000182503700041
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 03.01.2013
Last edited 29.12.2021
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