True exfoliation of the lens capsule. A clinicopathological report

A case of true senile exfoliation of the lens capsule is reported. Electron microscopic examination of the capsule confirmed capsular delamination. The proteins in the remaining sample of exfoliated capsule and in normal capsules were analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of the dissociating agent, sodium dodecyl sulphate, and under reducing conditions (SDS--PAGE). Densitometric scans of electrophoretograms indicated the virtual absence of a 58 kilodalton (kDa) component and approximately half the level of a 74 kDa component in the exfoliated capsule relative to normal capsule. The remaining protein components detected were of identical molecular weight and abundance compared with the normal lens capsule.