Regeneration of damaged ciliary epithelium in aphakic and pseudophakic eyes.

Mechanically damaged ciliary epithelium in aphakic and pseudophakic rabbit eyes was studied for up to 2 years after extracapsular lens extraction. Histopathological examination of the epithelium revealed more severe damage in pseudophakic eyes. The nonpigmented epithelium (NE) was missing from the middle to basal portion of each ciliary process. Regenerative ability of the NE was extremely poor. The damaged NE continued to disappear for at least 2 years, and only the pigmented epithelium (PE) covered the stroma. In some of the affected areas, the stroma of the ciliary body (CB) was substituted by fibrous materials.