The anterior eye segment in virus induced primary congenital aphakia

Nine aphakic eyes from human embryos infected with Rubella or Parvovirus B19 during early pregnancy were histologically examined. One of the eyes conformed with the classical description of primary congenital aphakia (PCA), namely, that no structures of the anterior eye segment are present. However, the other eight eyes did reveal such structures. In these eyes embryological development and differentiation of the anterior eye segment had taken place, despite the fact that no lens had formed previously. On the basis of this study it is concluded that PCA is not necessarily associated with aplasia of the anterior eye segment.