BACKGROUND: In this report we present a patient with unilateral membranous cataract and describe the histological and biochemical findings accompanying this rare condition. METHODS: The patient underwent an uneventful cataract extraction. Aqueous humor (20 μl) was aspirated from the anterior chamber intraoperatively and processed for fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) using an immunoassay method (ELISA). The lens material was subjected to histological examination. RESULTS: The patient had increased levels of FGF and EGF in the aqueous humor, as measured by ELISA. Histological examination of the lens material showed a marked fibrous metaplasia and thickening of the anterior lens capsule, while the lens epithelial cells were transformed to active myofibroblasts which generated a fibrous matrix of collagen lamellae. Unfortunately, visual function was not restored postoperatively due to underlying amblyopia. CONCLUSIONS: Our histological and biochemical findings suggest that FGF and EGF may play a key role in the formation of membranous cataract, and therefore their impact on lens physiology should be further investigated.
BACKGROUND: In this report we present a patient with unilateral membranous cataract and describe the histological and biochemical findings accompanying this rare condition. METHODS: The patient underwent an uneventful cataract extraction. Aqueous humor (20 μl) was aspirated from the anterior chamber intraoperatively and processed for fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) using an immunoassay method (ELISA). The lens material was subjected to histological examination. RESULTS: The patient had increased levels of FGF and EGF in the aqueous humor, as measured by ELISA. Histological examination of the lens material showed a marked fibrous metaplasia and thickening of the anterior lens capsule, while the lens epithelial cells were transformed to active myofibroblasts which generated a fibrous matrix of collagen lamellae. Unfortunately, visual function was not restored postoperatively due to underlying amblyopia. CONCLUSIONS: Our histological and biochemical findings suggest that FGF and EGF may play a key role in the formation of membranous cataract, and therefore their impact on lens physiology should be further investigated.