[Changes in rabbit lens epithelial cells after intravitreal silicone oil injection]

Using adult albino rabbits, the clinical course of lens opacity and morphological changes of lens epithelial cells were observed from 2 weeks to 3 months after intravitreal silicone oil injection. Simple vitrectomy was performed in both rabbit eyes. One eye with silicone oil injection served as an experimental eye, while another control eye did not receive any injection. Seven examined eyes showed early posterior subcapsular lens opacity from one month after silicone oil injection by slit-lamp microscopy. Small intracellular vacuoles near to the interdigitation of the lens epithelial cells were observed in the 7 eyes from 2 weeks after the procedure by transmission electron microscopy. These changes were not observed in 7 control eyes. As a result, it is surmised that cataract formation after intravitreal silicone oil injection may be associated with morphological changes of the lens epithelial cells.