Alteration of microfibrils in the conjunctiva of patients with exfoliation syndrome
Y. B. Roh, T. Ishibashi, N. Ito and H. Inomata
We electron-microscopically studied 15 specimens of upper limbal
conjunctiva obtained from 14 patients with exfoliation syndrome and
clinical evidence of glaucoma. Of 15 specimens, four (three patients)
contained exfoliation materials in the stroma of the conjunctiva. These
exfoliation materials of immature, intermediate, and mature forms were
composed of abnormal microfibrils lying adjacent to the fibroblasts and
located in close proximity to the elastic and collagen fibers. These
observations suggest a sequence of events by which microfibrils develop
into exfoliation materials.
