The ultrastructure of the deep layer of the lens capsule in fibrillopathia epitheliocapsularis (FEC), so-called senile exfoliation or pseudoexfoliation. A scanning electron microscopic study.

The epithelial surface of the lens capsule and the capsular surface of the epithelium have been studied in six cataractous lenses from persons with fibrillopathia epitheliocapsularis (FEC) or so-called senile exfoliation or pseudoexfoliation by scanning electron microscopy. Five of the lenses came from eyes with capsular glaucoma. Three senile cataractous lenses have been used as controls and two of the control lenses came from eyes with simple glaucoma. The investigation revealed round discoid plaques closely adherent to the capsule. The plaque surfaces had numerous smooth tentacle-like projections and matching pits in the underlying epithelium. These plaques were only found in FEC lenses and corresponded both in size and location to the structure known as the deep or amorphous layer of the lens capsule. The findings indicate that the epithelial cells are the source of origin.