High-resolution MR imaging of water diffusion in the rabbit lens.

Movement of water in the lens, specifically water diffusion, was examined with diffusion imaging and H217O-enhanced proton imaging. Diffusion imaging showed restricted water self-diffusion in the cortex which was not concurrent with the change in proton density; nevertheless it was dependent on the gradient direction and might be related to lens fiber/protein organization. The difference in water diffusion patterns between control and galactosemic cataract was subtle but distinguishable. On the other hand, intracameral H217O injection allowed visualization of water movement across the lens. In galactosemic cataracts, water diffused from the anterior cortex towards posterior cortex and into the vitreous. This pattern was not seen in the normal lens.