Transmission Electron Microscopic Findings of the Normal and Mature Cataractous Lenses

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Phacoemulsification is now a well-established technique for the surgical treatment of soft cataractous lens, hard lenses being considered less suitable. We have been examined noraml and mature cataractous lenses by transmission electron microscopy. METHODS: A soft cataractous lens and a normal lens were extracted from cadavers. In addition, four hard cataractous and a soft cataractous lenses were extracted from five patients who underwent extracapsular cataract extraction. RESULTS: In transmission electron microscopic investigation of normal lens and soft and hard cataractous lenses, the normal lenses showed classical ball-and-socket inter- digitations and relatively regular arrangement of fiber cell. In soft mature cataracts, disruptions of fiber cell morphology including numerous ball-and-socket interdigitations, abrupt continuities in fiber cell membranes and high amplitude of undulating membranes were present. In the hard cataractous lenses, the fiber cell morphology was severely damaged. The interfibrous spaces were more compact and irregular than soft mature cataracts. CONCLUSIONS: The large amount of irregular undulating membranes and flattening of fiber cells increases the condenssness of hard cataracts, and makes phacoemulsification less suitable.