MEMBRANOUS OUTGROWTH SUGGESTING LENS EPITHELIAL-CELL PROLIFERATION INPSEUDOPHAKIC EYES

PURPOSE: We sought to determine the incidence and structure of membran ous outgrowth, which extends from the anterior capsular opening onto t he intraocular lens surface in pseudophakic eyes. METHODS: Thirty four eyes of 31 patients with age-related cataract were prospectively stud ied. No patient had any abnormality other than cataract. Each patient underwent continuous circular cap sulorhexis, phacoemulsification, and implantation within the capsule of a three-piece posterior cham- ber lens. A slit lamp and specular microscope were used to observe and pho tograph the intraocular lens surface and anterior capsular opening eve ry day for the first postoperative week, and at days 14, 21, and 28. W e counted the number of eyes with the membranous outgrowth and graded the out growth according to its shape and length at each postoperative period. RESULTS: In total, 27 of 34 (79%) eyes had the membranous out growth from the anterior capsular opening onto the intraocular lens su rface. The membrane was first observed on day 3. Three of 34 eyes had the dendritic or fan-shaped structure, which extended less than 0.5 mm from the capsular edge. The membranes were most frequently found on d ay 7. Twenty-five of 34 eyes had the outgrowth in various grades. Afte r four weeks, no membranes were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The rime course and structure of the membranous outgrowth we observed were comparable to those of the outgrowth of lens epithelial cells under tissue cultu re conditions. The membranous outgrowth may be the result of a transie nt but active proliferation of human lens epithelial cells onto the in traocular lens surface.