The purpose of this report is to investigate experimentally how the corea, sclera, crystalline lens and focusing lens influence the ultrasound intensity and beam width and to find characteristic differences due to the transducer parameters; frequency and size. A time-amplitude ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, Aloka Model SSD-2D was used with transcucers of 10 MHz and 5 MHz, 10 mm and 5 mm diameters. The metal ball, 1 mm in diameter, was served as the echo-reflecting target which was immersed in water and moved horizontally under the transducer with a micrometer screw. The distances between the transducer and the metal ball varied from 10 mm to 50 mm in 10 mm step. The amplitudes curves of the echoes so obtained were represented by relative values. In water control experiment, the nearer the metal ball from the transducer, the more irregular the curves, with multiple amplitudes maxima and minima. These irregular curves became homogeneous as the transducer moved away from the target. The multiple peak curves were more marked when measured with transducers of higher frequency and larger diameter. At the end of the near field only a single peak was found in the axial portion of the sound field. In the far field, the beam width reduced slightly due to the divergence of the beam accompanied by slight attenuation of the echo amplitudes. When the sound beam passed through the cornea and sclera, the form of the curves remained almost unchanged, but the amplitudes decreased slightly due to the absorption of the sound energy. Scleral tissue absorbed the energy more strongly then the corneal tissue. When the crystalline lens was placed under the transducer, divergence of the beam and themoderate absorption took place. This effect was more pronounced with the use of transducers of higher frequency and smaller diameter. When a focusing lens, 25 mm focal length, was attached to the transducer surface, sound beam converged to a narrow zone, followed by later scattering. These results suggest that the transducer should be selected as to the frequency and diameter according to the site of the lesion suspected and the nature of the pathology.
Absorption ; Cornea ; Lens, Crystalline ; Pathology ; Sclera ; Transducers ; Ultrasonics* ; Ultrasonography ; Water

When the continuous circular capsulorhexis (CCC) is being performed, the nucleus delivery using nucleus dislocation into the anterior chamber is safer and easier than using conventional "push and pull" method to maintain an intact lens capsule. This method include such procedures that after CCC, the nucleus being freed in the capsular bag by hydrodissection and hydrodelineation, then hooked with a Sinskey hook and drawn out to the anterior chamber by rotation. It may damage the corneal endothelium because of the manipulation in the anterior chamber. To investigate an effect of this method on the corneal endothelium, we performed two months time analysis of changes of the central corneal endothelial cell density (CECD) in two groups--a group with an extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) using nucleus dislocation into the anterior chamber and a group with a conventional ECCE. Eighteen eyes of 18 cataract patients who were operated on with ECCE using nucleus dislocation into the anterior chamber method, and ten eyes of 10 cataract patients who were operated on with a conventional ECCE method were included. The CECD was measured by specular microscopy, preoperatively, postoperatively at 1 month and 2 months. The average endothelial cell loss at postoperative 1 month was 7.20 +/- 2.98% in the experimental group and 7.88 +/- 2.93% in the control group, and at postoperative 2 months was 9.05 +/- 2.96% in the experimental group and 9.34 +/- 2.95% in the control group. The change in CECD between two groups was not statistically significant.
Adult ; Aged ; Anterior Chamber/*surgery ; Cataract Extraction/*methods ; Cell Count ; Endothelium, Corneal/*pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lens Capsule, Crystalline/*surgery ; Lens Nucleus, Crystalline/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged

Using a white rabbit model, the effect of the haptic portion of the intraocular lens (IOL) and intracapsular ring on the development of posterior capsular opacification (PCO) after extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) with phacoemulsification was studied. Implantation of both the intracapsular ring and IOL developed less PCO than implantation of the IOL alone. ECCE followed by implantation of the intracapsular ring alone also developed less PCO than ECCE alone. Through this experimental work in a rabbit model, it could be conceived that the haptic portion of IOL and the intracapsular ring can prevent the development of PCO.
Animal ; Cataract/prevention & control* ; Cataract/pathology ; Cataract Extraction ; Lens Capsule, Crystalline* ; Lenses, Intraocular* ; Male ; Ophthalmoscopy ; Rabbits

Gigantol is a phenolic component of precious Chinese medicine Dendrobii Caulis, which has many pharmacological activities such as prevent tumor and diabetic cataract. This paper aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of gigantol in transmembrane transport in human lens epithelial cells(HLECs). Immortalized HLECs were cultured in vitro and inoculated in the laser scanning confocal microscopy(LSCM) medium at 5 000 cells/mL. The fluorescence distribution and intensity of gigantol marked by fluorescence in HLECs were observed by LSCM, and the absorption and distribution of gigantol were expressed as fluorescence intensity. The transmembrane transport process of gigantol in HLECs were monitored. The effects of time, temperature, concentration, transport inhibitors, and different cell lines on the transmembrane absorption and transport of gigantol were compared. HLECs were inoculated on climbing plates of 6-well culture plates, and the ultrastructure of HLECs was detected by atomic force microscopy(AFM) during the transmembrane absorption of non-fluorescent labeled gigantol. The results showed that the transmembrane absorption of gigantol was in time and concentration-dependent manners, which was also able to specifically target HLECs. Energy and carrier transport inhibitors reduced gigantol absorption by HLECs. During transmembrane process of gigantol, the membrane surface of HLECs became rougher and presented different degrees of pits, indicating that the transmembrane transport of gigantol was achieved by active absorption of energy and carrier-mediated endocytosis.
Humans ; Lens, Crystalline/pathology* ; Cataract/prevention & control* ; Bibenzyls/pharmacology* ; Epithelial Cells ; Cells, Cultured ; Apoptosis

Alport syndrome is a hereditary, progressive disease characterized by progressive nephritis, sensorineural deafness, and ocular abnormalities, including anterior lenticonus. The ultrastructure of the lens capsule abnormalities in Alport syndrome is reported. Four anterior lens capsules from 31-year-old patient and 26-year-old patient with lenticonus who were affected by the Alport syndrome were obtained at capsulectomy. And all four anterior lens capsules were examined by transmission electron microscopy. The histopathologic findings showed that the thickness of the anterior lens capsules was decreased (4~13 micrometer) and that there were many vascular dehiscences localized at the inner part of the lens capsule. There were large numbers of capsular dehiscences containing fibrillar materials and vacuoles. The anterior capsules were clearly fragile in this disease, forming the basis for the progressive lenticonus and anterior polar cataract.
Adult ; Epithelial Cells/ultrastructure ; Humans ; Lens Capsule, Crystalline/*ultrastructure ; Lens Diseases/genetics/*pathology ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; Male ; Nephritis, Hereditary/genetics/*pathology ; Phacoemulsification

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of lens density on liquefaction time by using liquefaction device (AquaLase(R), Alcon Laboratories, TX, U.S.A.). METHODS: Cataract surgery using AquaLase(R) was performed on 47 eyes. With a Scheimpflug camera, the density and thickness of lens were measured in eye of each patient preoperatively. During surgery, liquefaction time and total number of pulses were recorded. The correlation of both density and thickness of lens with liquefaction time and total number of pulses was analyzed. RESULTS: The mean density of anterior cortex, nucleus, and posterior cortex was 112.45+/-42.1 computer compatible tapes (CCT), 76.5+/-22.7 CCT, and 70.9+/-52.2 CCT, respectively. The mean thickness was 0.97+/-0.30 mm, 2.76+/-0.54 mm, and 0.81+/-0.24 mm, respectively. The mean liquefaction time was 174.8+/-108.2 seconds. The mean total number of pulses was 4799+/-3007.There was no significant difference between the density of each area of lens (anterior cortex, nucleus, posterior cortex, and total lens) and liquefaction time (p>0.05), and between the thickness of each area of lens and liquefaction time (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between the density of each area of lens and total number of pulses (p>0.05), and between the thickness of each area of lens and total number of pulses (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: When extraction of soft to moderate density cataract was performed with AquaLase(R), liquefaction time and total number of pulse did not correlate to the density and thickness of lens.
Adult ; Aged ; Cataract/*pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lens, Crystalline/*pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phacoemulsification/instrumentation/*methods ; Photography ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo observe the correlation of gammaD-crystallin P23T mutant with lens ultrastructure of the hereditary coralliform cataract.

METHODSComplete ophthalmologic examinations were performed before lens extraction and lens samples were studied by transmission and scanning electric microscope respectively. Protein molecular modeling was performed using SWISS-MODEL(version 2.0).

RESULTSProtein structure modeling demonstrated that the mutant caused a decrease in molecular final total energy and changes in the surface structure of gammaD-crystallin. Ultrastructure study revealed crystals deposited in lens, extensive granules dispersed in uncommon oval structure and the disorganization of lens epithelial cells.

CONCLUSIONIt is possible that the gammaD-crystallin P23T mutant is associated with abnormal crystals in lens and disorganization of lens epithelial cells.

Cataract ; congenital ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lens, Crystalline ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Point Mutation ; gamma-Crystallins ; genetics

A 45-year-old man with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), who had undergone uneventful extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) in his right eye eight years previously, and phacoemulsification in his left eye six years previously, had spontaneously dislocated intraocular lenses (IOL) within the capsular bag in both eyes one month apart. We removed the dislocated IOLs, and performed anterior vitrectomy and scleral fixation of the new IOLs. Mild contraction of the capsular bags and uneven distribution of the zonular remnants' clumps along the equator of the capsules were found by scanning electron microscopic (SEM) examination. In this study, we propose the correlation between RP and zonular weakness. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of bilateral spontaneous dislocation of IOLs within the capsular bag of an RP patient.
Adult ; Foreign-Body Migration/*etiology ; Humans ; Lens Capsule, Crystalline/*pathology ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; *Lenses, Intraocular ; Ligaments/ultrastructure ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Phacoemulsification ; Reoperation ; Retinitis Pigmentosa/*complications ; Vitrectomy

A 60-year-old man visited our clinic with a sudden blurred vision and ocular pain in his right eye occurring 15 years after cataract surgery. The intraocular pressure (IOP) was 55 mmHg in the right eye and gonioscopy revealed a wide open angle with white cortical lens material in the inferior angle. Since the IOP was unable to be controlled with medical therapy, removal of the lens material was performed by irrigation and aspiration. Following surgery, the IOP was decreased to 18 mmHg without medication and the patient's vision recovered to 20/20. The pathology of the aqueous humor showed macrophages with engulfed lens particles.
Aqueous Humor/*cytology ; Case Report ; Cataract Extraction/*adverse effects ; Glaucoma/*etiology/*pathology ; Human ; Lens, Crystalline/*pathology ; Macrophages/pathology ; Male ; Middle Age

PURPOSE: To investigate the long-term characteristics of cataracts among adults aged 30 to 49 years in Korean over a span of 10 years. METHODS: Subjects between the ages of 30 to 49 years who underwent cataract surgery at St. Mary's Hospital from 1995 to 2004 (n = 976) were included. Patients with a history of ocular trauma, uveitis, other ocular or systemic diseases, and congenital cataracts were excluded. Additional information including type of lens opacity, urban/rural region, and pre- and postoperative visual acuities were analyzed. Lens opacity grading was conducted using Lens Opacity Classification System III. The Cochran-Armitage proportion trend test was used to analyze vision changes with the passage of time. RESULTS: Among the patients who had undergone cataract surgeries, 8.8% (976 / 11,111) met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 41.7 +/- 5.45 years. Gender breakdown of the patient population included 79.0% male and 21.0% female. In terms of home environment, 60.9% were from an urban region and 39.1% from a rural region. Opacity type included anterior polar (AP), posterior subcapsular (PSC), AP and PSC, cortical, and nuclear in 35.7%, 35.1%, 7.0%, 6.0%, and 5.4% of patients, respectively. At a 2-month postoperative follow-up appointment, 92.7% of patients showed a best-corrected visual acuity of more than 20 / 40. CONCLUSIONS: Predominance of AP and PSC opacities as well as male patients was observed in this study population.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Age Factors ; Cataract/*epidemiology/pathology ; *Cataract Extraction ; Female ; *Forecasting ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lens Capsule, Crystalline/*pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies