1. It has been found that on ultrasound biomicroscopy, mature intumescent cataract is notable for a 10--15° wider equatorial angle as compared to the fellow eye, which can be regarded as spherophakia. 2. Five different structural variants of the swollen opaque lens have been described. 3. The mechanism of uncontrolled tearing of the anterior capsule during creation of the anterior capsulorhexis has been studied and the expediency of two-stage capsulorhexis with lenticular mass removal from capsular bag compartments proved.