Histologic examination of dislocated lenses

Purpose: To examine histological changes resulting from dislocated and subl uxated lenses. Cases: The subjects consisted of 16 patients (aged 52-89 years) who underwe nt total lens extraction for lens dislocation or subluxation in the Departm ent of Ophthalmology at Fukui Medical University during the period between April 1991 and June 1998. There were 5 patients (6 eyes) with traumatic dis location and 11 patients (11 eyes) with idiopathic dislocation. Result: Rupture of the cortical fibers and migration of the epithelial cell s toward the posterior pole of the lens were more frequently noted in patie nts with traumatic dislocation than in the idiopathic group, and both findi ngs were often simultaneously observed. Rupture of the cortical fibers was considered attributable to external pressure transmitted to the lens. Conclusion: We speculate that the concurrent migration and dislocation of t he equatorial bow architecture toward the posterior pole was caused by inhi bition of differentiation of the epithelial cells to fiber cells by externa l pressure on the equatorial region. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2001;45:510-515 (C) 2 001 Japanese Ophthalmological Society.