Developmental deformities of the crystalline lens / by E. Treacher Collins.

  • Collins, E. Treacher (Edward Treacher), 1862-1937.
Date:
[1908]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Developmental deformities of the crystalline lens / by E. Treacher Collins. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    the equator of the lens is much thickened, and is wavy posteriorly, where it dwindles away and disappears in the cellular tissue. In sections near the periphery of the lens it is seen that the lens fibres overlap the irregular margin of the gap in the capsule, and here the fibro-cellular tissue is much thicker. Having, from these cases, become aware of the not uncom- mon association of these defects, I was led to examine sections which I had previously prepared with persistent hyaloid artery and atypical development of the vitreous. I found that in those in which I had sections passing across the centre of the posterior pole of the lens a gap in the posterior capsule was present. In those which I had only sections passing through the side of the lens there was some rucking of the posterior capsule, suggestive of the possible presence of a defect in the centre. So frequent is a congenital formation of fibrous tissue met with in association with a defect in the posterior capsule of the lens that I am inclined to think that the latter is the primary condition, and the former a kind of compensatory change. In the first case which I described of congenital gap in the posterior capsule, I mentioned that some of the atypically developed vitreous lay just inside the capsule at the margins of the gap. In the next two cases I am going to refer to there was a much more extensive protrusion forwards of this fibrous tissue, of mesoblastic origin, into the cavity of the leLs capsule. The affected eye in one of these two cases was removed from an infant, aged 3 months. The mother stated she had noticed in it two small white specks at birth, which had gradually become larger and covered the sight. There had been no discharge from the eye and no inflammation. On examination, the iris was found to be in contact with the cornea, there being no anterior chamber, and the pupil was blocked by a greyish opacity. The eyeball was removed under the supposition that it contained, a new growth, but none was found on pathological examination. A persistent and patent hyaloid artery extended throughout the vitreous ending and breaking up in a mass of fibres and elongated cells at the back of the lens (atypically developed vitreous). In anterio-posterior sections through the centre of the lens there is a break in the continuity of the posterior capsule at the posterior pole. On each side of the break it is seen to taper off and become merged with the mass of fibro- cellular tissue. In sections passing a little to one side of the pcsterior pole no gap in the posterior capsule is seen, but it is lined like the anterior by a single row of cells on its inner surface. The fibro-cellular tissue at the back of the lens passes through the gap in the cap.sule invading the lens sub.stance, and extends almo.st to the centre of it. Small collections of lens substance arc .seen in the sections surrounded by fibro-cellular ti.ssue. In part of the fibro-cellular tissue within the lens capsule are some collections of red blood corpuscles.