Calcium-containing opacities in the human lens

Abstract

Cooperative Cataract Research Group (CCRG) photographic procedures developed by Chylack have made it possible to localize and analyze specific lens opacities for their ultrastructural and chemical characteristics. One group of human lens opacities has been shown to have a high phosphorus/sulfur ratio (as compared to normal lens fiber cells) and an accumulation of unit membranes. The present paper describes another variety of human lens opacity with the following characteristics: (1) high calcium, low sulfur, undetectable phosphorus, as determined by Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDXA) of bulk specimens in the scanning electron microscope (SEM), or "thick" sections with the transmission mode of the SEM; (2) spheroidal shape; (3) up to approximately 300 microns in size; and (4) birefringence. Microchemical analysis of these opacities shows that the calcium is in the form of calcium oxalate. These calcium-containing opacities, which have been detected in 14 out of 406 human cataractous lenses, have a characteristic morphology, as seen in the CCRG stereo photographs. Therefore, the presence of these calcium opacities, if not obscured by other kinds of opacities, can be detected with a high degree of accuracy in the fresh lens from the CCRG photographs alone.