The pseudo-exfoliation syndrome. A scanning electron microscopic study. I. The anterior lens surface.

The distribution and the surface of pseudo-exfoliation (PE) material on the anterior lens surface has been studied by scanning electron microscopy. The lenses were fixed in glutaraldehyde and OsO4, and dried by the critical point method. The PE granules of ther peripheral band may rest upon a basal lamella, which may terminate in a sharp edge bordering the intermediate zone. The basal lamella may continue peripherally beyond the granular peripheral band, towards the lens equator, where the basal lamella may cover the zonular attachment zone. The central disc is considered to be analogous to this lamella. In high magnification it is found that the surface of the granular and the lamellar PE material is formed by an irregular meshwork of tortuous fibrils, which may be coiled as spirals. The diameter of the fibrils is between 500 and 1000 A, and their length may be up to 5 mum. The possibility that these fibrils are a condensation product of mucopolysaccharides is discussed.