CYTOKERATIN IN LENS EPITHELIAL-CELLS AND ITS EFFECT ON ANTERIOR LENS CAPSULE OPACIFICATION

Postoperative lens capsule opacification is a complication of extracap sular cataract extraction. To avoid this problem, we aspirated the epi thelial cells lining the internal surface of the capsular bag. Anterio r capsule specimens collected three and six years after the first surg ical intervention (extracapsular cataract extraction with intercapsula r implantation of a poly[methyl methacrylate] intraocular lens) and in vitro studies of epithelial cell cultures revealed the presence of in tracellular and extracellular cytokeratin. After several years, the cy tokeratin layers were arranged in a pattern analogous to that of liqui d crystalline phases and many nonhuman extraocular tissues.