Epithelial ingrowth
P. Jensen, D. S. Minckler and J. W. Chandler
A 74-year-old woman had a radical anterior segment resection for epithelial
ingrowth following cataract extraction. Light microscopy demonstrated the
presence of a sheet of cells morphologically similar to conjunctival
epithelium covering the superior half of the inner surface of the cornea,
iris, and ciliary processes. Electron microscopy revealed that frequent
hemidesmosomes and a well-developed basal lamina were consistently present
along the base of the ingrowing epithelium. The tissue immediately beneath
the ingrowing epithelium, lining the cornea, trabecular meshwork and iris,
morphologically resembled the subepithelial zone that has been described
along the human skin epidermal-dermal junction. Additionally, focal areas
of necrosis were noted in the trabecular meshwork. The major structural
alterations induced on the surfaces of intraocular structures by the
invading epithelium and the associated necrosis probably are responsible
for the glaucoma which occurs with epithelial ingrowth.
