Anterior capsule opacification in monkey eyes with posterior chamber intraocular lenses
T. Ishibashi, H. Araki, S. Sugai, A. Tawara, Y. Ohnishi and H. Inomata
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the morphologic features of anterior capsule
opacifications in pseudophakic monkey eyes. METHODS: Extracapsular lens
extraction with implantation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses in six
monkey eyes. Eyes were enucleated 2, 4, and 12 months after implantation
and then studied with light and electron microscopy. Distribution of
proteoglycans was also examined with cuprolinic blue staining. RESULTS:
Anterior capsule opacifications were composed of proliferated cellular and
extracellular matrix components situated between the anterior capsule and
the optics of the intraocular lens. The morphologic features of the
proliferated cells were consistent with epithelial cells, and these cells
probably represented lens epithelial cells. The extracellular matrix, which
consisted of collagen fibrils, basal lamina-like material, and
microfibrils, was most prominent in the specimens obtained 12 months after
lens implantation. The extracellular matrix contained proteoglycans that
showed positive staining with cuprolinic blue. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior
capsule opacifications consisted of proliferated lens epithelial cells and
aberrant extracellular matrix.
