[Proteoglycan abnormality in a nanophthalmos sclera].

We examined a scleral specimen obtained from a nanophthalmos eye with uveal effusion at the surgery, using cuprolinic blue (CB) dye binding and electron microscopy. The nanophthalmic sclera was separated into two areas electron microscopically. One was an area composed of tightly packed collagen fibers, the other with irregularly arranged collagen fibers. In irregular areas, several abnormal findings, such as twisting or fraying, were detected in collagen fibers, which were surrounded by fine fibrous materials. Furthermore, CB-positive materials were fewer in number and less in size and electron density around the collagen fibers and in fine fibrous materials than in the normal eye. Since the nanophthalmic sclera in this study showed some abnormalities both in collagen fibers and in proteoglycans, we suggest that the function and/or interaction of both of these were abnormal, which might be related to the onset of uveal effusion.