N. Ibaraki et al., MEMBRANOUS OUTGROWTH SUGGESTING LENS EPITHELIAL-CELL PROLIFERATION INPSEUDOPHAKIC EYES, American journal of ophthalmology, 119(6), 1995, pp. 706-711
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.