Epithelial ingrowth.

A 74-year-old woman had a radical anterior segment resection for epithelial ingrowth following cataract extraction. Light microscopy demonstrated the presence of a sheet of cells morphologically similar to conjunctival epithelium covering the superior half of the inner surface of the cornea, iris, and ciliary processes. Electron microscopy revealed that frequent hemidesmosomes and a well-developed basal lamina were consistently present along the base of the ingrowing epithelium. The tissue immediately beneath the ingrowing epithelium, lining the cornea, trabecular meshwork and iris, morphologically resembled the subepithelial zone that has been described along the human skin epidermal-dermal junction. Additionally, focal areas of necrosis were noted in the trabecular meshwork. The major structural alterations induced on the surfaces of intraocular structures by the invading epithelium and the associated necrosis probably are responsible for the glaucoma which occurs with epithelial ingrowth.