LENS EPITHELIAL-CELL MIGRATION ONTO THE POSTERIOR CAPSULE IN-VITRO

Purpose: To investigate lens epithelial cell (LEG) proliferation on th e posterior capsule in an in vitro model. Setting: Department of Ophth almology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. Methods: W e cultured the cells remaining on the postoperative capsular bag and e xpanded the capsule with an open poly(methyl methacrylate) ring to sim ulate actual postoperative conditions. Using human and rabbit cadaver eyes, we monitored the migration and proliferation of LECs onto the po stoperative capsular bag by time-lapse videomicroscopy. Results: The r emaining viable cells migrated onto the posterior capsule through the equator and directly from the anterior capsule. The cells typically pr oliferated in a monolayer because of contact inhibition of cell moveme nt and division, but they proliferated in a multilayer at some regions where nonviable cells had accumulated and there were capsular folds. Conclusion: A means to block both routes of cell expansion must be dev eloped to prevent LEC migration onto the posterior capsule.