Lens-capsule material of human and animal origin, studied by SEM

Lens-capsule material from healthy and cataractous human lenses and from rabbits was collected with specially designed forceps. Subsequently the capsule fragments were fastened, after short pre-fixation, onto a rubber substrate with small stainless steel tacks, to prevent rolling-up of the fragments during the fixation and drying procedure for the SEM. Finally the capsule fragments were studied by SEM. Marked morphological changes, e.g., irregular swelling (like blebs) of the nuclei, formation of deep grooves at the cell borders and complete loss of epithelial cells, were found in the lens capsules obtained from certain cataractous lenses. Differences in capsule thickness were found in pathological capsule material. The imprints (attachment-lines) of the lens-fibres on the epithelial cells were often difficult to visualize.