[The disjunction zone in the slit-image-photograph of the human aging lens (author's transl)].

Standardised slit-image-photographs of 178 clear lenses were evaluated by microdensitometry. The mean distance of the disjunction zone from the anterior capsule and the density of the disjunction zone remain constant during life. Its thickness will be reduced and its extension into deeper layers increases with age. In contrast to these findings the thickness of the whole lens according to the increasing thickness of the cortex increases with age. Its density increases too in a not linear manner probably on behalf of the increasing number of reflecting zones (Alterskernstreifen). The density of the nucleus of the lens increases with age, whereas its densitometrically defined thickness remains constant during life. The disjunction zone behaves independently from age in contrast to other parts of the lens.