In Vitro Measurement of the Anterior Lens Capsule without Tissue Dehydration

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: The thickness of the anterior lens capsule has been studied and documented to measure 10-22 microns. These measurements are recorded after tissue dehydration due to fixation and/or staining. We measured the in vitro thickness of the anterior lens capsule without dehydrating the tissue. Methods: The anterior lens capsules from nine patients were obtained during routine cataract surgery. The tissue was stored in balanced salt solution for less than 5 hours. The anterior lens capsule was frozen sectioned and measured under the microscope. Two frozen sections from the same blocks of the anterior lens capsules were obtained. One section from each patient was measured without the use of any dehydrating fixative or stain and the other section from the same tissue was stained with hematoxylin and eosin (dehydrated) and measured under the microscope. Measurement of the anterior lens capsule was also performed with the OCT (optical coherence tomography) by placing a single-layer of tissue suspended in a viscoelastic agent (Viscoat) on a balloon. Results: All the frozen sectioned anterior lens capsules stained with hematoxylin and eosin showed a 50% or greater decrease in thickness after dehydration compared with the unstained section. The actual anterior lens capsule thickness measurement varied depending on the angle of sectioning, however, the percentage of decrease between the unstained and stained tissues remained identical in all nine specimens. All anterior lens capsule specimens measured by OCT were thicker than previously documented in the literature. Conclusions: Dehydration of the anterior lens capsule significantly decreases the measured thickness of the tissue. Previous reports have measured the thickness of the tissue after fixation and dehydration. The actual thickness of the anterior lens capsule is larger than previously reported. OCT can precisely measure the thickness of the anterior lens capsule.

Keywords: anterior segment • imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, S