[Report of two cases with idiopathic true exfoliation of the lens capsule--histopathological and electron...

True exfoliation is a delamination of the superficial or all layers of the anterior lens capsule, appearing as a transparent membrane in the anterior chamber. It is a rare occurrence and most of the reported cases have been associated with histories of exposure to excessive heat, ocular trauma, or intraocular inflammation. We report two cases of idiopathic true exfoliation without any contributory history. In one case, the lens was surgically removed intracapsularly, and served for histological study and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The anterior fourth of the capsule was delaminated. Underlying epithelial cells showed nonspecific senile changes.