Abstract
The lens growth through life is the net result of surface accretion partially offset by central compaction. Compaction has previously been shown to affect the cortex. The present study examines compaction in the nucleus by measuring the change in dimensions of congenital lamellar cataract with time and by comparing the different dimensions of dominantly inherited lamellar cataract in individuals of different ages in the same family. It is now shown that compaction affects the nucleus at a decreasing rate with increasing age and that the rate of compaction of lamellar cataracts is faster the greater diameter of the affected lamella. It is concluded that compaction of lens fibres towards the centre of the lens affects all regions of the cortex and nucleus in youth and that the compaction becomes largely or completely confined to the cortex in middle age and beyond. The shape of the lamellar cataract changes from a lenticular shape in youth to a rounded shape with increasing age. This accounts for the development of the peripheral divergence of the zones of discontinuity of the cortex, which allows the lens to remain emmetropic with increasing age in spite of changes in surface curvature.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Brown N. Cataract in childhood: photograph methods in assessment. Br J Ophthalmol. 1977 Feb;61(2):135–140. doi: 10.1136/bjo.61.2.135. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Brown N. Dating the onset of cataract. Trans Ophthalmol Soc U K. 1976 Apr;96(1):18–23. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Brown N. Quantitative slit-image photography of the lens. Trans Ophthalmol Soc U K. 1972;92:303–307. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Brown N. The change in lens curvature with age. Exp Eye Res. 1974 Aug;19(2):175–183. doi: 10.1016/0014-4835(74)90034-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Fisher R. F. The elastic constants of the human lens. J Physiol. 1971 Jan;212(1):147–180. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1971.sp009315. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- GOLDMANN H., NIESEL P. STUDIEN UEBER DIE ABSPALTUNGSSTREIFEN UND DAS LINSENWACHSTUM. Ophthalmologica. 1964;147:134–142. doi: 10.1159/000304579. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lowe R. F., Clark B. A. Radius of curvature of the anterior lens surface. Correlations in normal eyes and in eyes involved with primary angle-closure glaucoma. Br J Ophthalmol. 1973 Jul;57(7):471–474. doi: 10.1136/bjo.57.7.471. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Luyckx-Bacus J., Weekers J. F. Etude biométrique de l'oeil humain par ultra-sonographie. Bull Soc Belge Ophtalmol. 1966;143:552–567. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rodriguez Caballero M. L., Gerhard J. P., Nordmann J. Le noyau du cristallin humain. II. Son épaisseur. Arch Ophtalmol Rev Gen Ophtalmol. 1973 May;33(5):425–428. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]