After-cataract in the rabbit eye following extracapsular cataract extraction--a wound healing reaction.

The cellular response in lens remnants was studied after ECCE in the rabbit eye. Following capsulotomy, the lens content was gently exprimated. No aspiration/irrigation was performed. Degenerative changes were found in the lens fibers and lens epithelium at the equator. Proliferation of lens epithelium started early. Lens fibers break-down almost ceased when lens fibers had been enclosed by proliferating epithelium, that also formed new foci for lens fiber formation. In the opening between the anterior and posterior capsule fibroblastlike cells emerged proliferating on to the posterior capsule.