The results suggest that the soft-shell technique is safe and effective in protecting corneal endothelial cells during cataract surgery in patients with a hard lens nucleus.

We designed four prototypes of a capsular bag supporting ring for supporting and preserving postoperative integrity of the capsular bag, independently of the intraocular lens (IOL) implanted following continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis. An open poly(methyl methacrylate) ring, inserted experimentally in cadaver eyes through a 3.5 mm incision, adjusted well to various capsular bag sizes and could be implanted with common IOL types. Although some capsular shrinkage occurred in vitro, the roundness of the capsular bag equator was preserved, suggesting that the ring may help maintain postoperative capsular bag integrity.

In the rabbit-model study, the convex-plano lens was superior to the biconvex lens in inhibiting migration of LECs. A firm contact between the IOL and the posterior capsule blocked the migration.

Aims-To determine whether a smooth muscle actin (a-SMA), a marker for myofibroblastic cells, is present in lens epithelial cells (LECs) in rabbit aphakic eyes. Methods-Phacoemulsification was performed in rabbit eyes, which were enucleated after surgery. Immunohistochemical methods were used to detect a-SMA in LECs.Results-Five days after surgery, the presence of a-SMA positive LECs was observed mainly around the adhesive portion of the anterior capsule margin and the posterior capsule. The posterior capsule was wrinkled at the adhesive portion. The a-SMA positive LECs were flattened with spindle-shaped cross sections. Seven days after surgery, the a-SMA positive LECs covered most ofthe central posterior capsule. They disappeared 10 days after surgery. On the other hand, the cuboidal LECs in the capsular bag were negative for a-SMA. Conclusion-The flattened LECs with spindle-shaped cross sections observed S days after cataract surgery contained a-SMA. Such LECs were distinguished biochemically from the cuboidal LECs, which lacked a-SMA. (BrJ Ophthalmol 1996;80:906-910)

The results suggest that inhibition of cell migration at the optic edge is regulated by the degree of contact pressure between the optic edge and posterior capsule. A sharp capsule bend might indicate strong contact but does not in itself inhibit cell migration.