Lens, Cataracts and Optics Flashcards
Anatomy of lens
The lens is a transparent crystalline structure which is suspended in between the vitreous and the iris by the zonular fibres of the ciliary body.
Dimensions and Structure of the lens
- Spheroid biconvex shape
- Composed mainly of water (65%) and crystallins (34%)
- Lens is avascular and receives nutrients from the aqueous humour
- The lens contains glutathione and ascorbic acid (antioxidants which prevent cataract formation)
- Adult lens (unaccommodated) is 6mm thick
- 10mm of anterior curvature
- 6mm of posterior curvature
Lens Capsule Anatomy
- The lens itself is tightly held inside a capsular bag made of type 4 collagen
- The anterior part of the capsule (14 microns) is thicker than the posterior (4 microns)
- The peripheral part of the capsule is thicker than its centre
- The anterior capsule is produced by the lens epithelium whilst the posterior capsule is formed from elongating lens fibres
Lens Epithelium anatomy
- Lens epithelium is only found underneath the anterior capsule
- A single layer
- The epithelium at the centre is non-mitotic, whereas the epithelium at the periphery is mitotic.
Core Ultrastructure of the lens
- The lens itself has a cortex and a nucleus
- The nucleus is in the centre and contains older lens fibres
- The cortex contains recently formed fibres
- Lens fibres are placed in a characteristic manner to form 2 sutures when looking at the lens head-on:
- Anterior ‘Y’ shaped suture
- Posterior ‘inverted Y’ shaped suture
Zonular Fibres
- Arise from the ciliary body and attach as sheets onto the lens capsule
- Made of fibrillin
- Zonular force keeps the capsular bag tense and the lens taut.
In their normal state, the zonular fibres are taut and hold the lens with tension. It is only with accommodation that these fibres relax and allow the lens to thicken from its tense arrangement.
Power of the lens
- Lens power is the extent to which it can refract light
- Refractive index of 1.386 (around 1.4 centrally)
- Adult (unaccommodated) lens power is around 17D
Total power of the eye
- Lens 1/3 of the total power of the eye 17D
- Cornea 2/3rds is around 43D
How does ageing affect the lens?
Ageing leads to a loss in the accommodative power of the lens, this is why adults need reading glasses at around the age of 50.
Helmholtz Theory of Accommodation
- Ciliary muscles contract
- Ciliary body becomes larger and moves closer to the lens → zonular fibres relax
- Lens thickens (increases power to focus the light from the nearer image)
- Pupils constrict and converge
- Choroid and Ora Serrata stretch forward
Accommodative Power at various ages of life
With age, the lens hardens and the anterior capsule thickens - its power decreases because it loses the ability to change shape with accommodation
- At birth → 16D
- 25 years → 8D
- 50 years → 2D
Loss of power of the eye is known as what?
Presbyopia
Pathology of catarats
Alongside ageing, there is a decrease in the overall biochemical activities of the lens and a loss of antioxidants. This causes the lens to become thicker, weightier and cloudier, resulting in light scatter
2 types of crystallins are specifically affected with age:
* Alpha and gamma decrease
* Beta becomes more dispersed.
Grades of cataracts
- Immature - partially opaque
- Mature - opaque
- Hypermature - cataractous material is leaking outside the capsular bag and the capsule itself has shrunk, and wrinkling can be seen
- Morgagnian cataract - cortex has liquified and the nucleus has sunk within the capsular bag
Classification of Age-related Cataracts
Classic Cataract Associations
Congenital Cataracts
Most commonly occur bilaterally and follow an AD inheritance pattern
There are many secondary causes of congenital cataracts such as Down’s syndrome and homocystinuria.
When should congenital cataracts be opperated on?
The timing of surgery for congenital cataracts is based on balancing the risk of glaucoma and amblyopia
- Unilateral congenital cataracts should be removed at 6 weeks
- Bilateral congenital cataracts should be removed at around 10 weeks
Biometry
There are various machines that conduct biometry such as the IOLmaster
Measurements include the axial length, corneal curvature and anterior chamber depth
The numbers from these measurements are plugged into predictive formulae to find the appropriate power for the lens implant which will replace the cataract
Types of Lens Implants
There are 2 broad types of IOL: rigid and flexible
Rigid is made of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and is not widely used in the UK because it is associated with more complications, but it is cheap
Flexible IOLs have 3 further subtypes
- Silicone - highest complication rates so not widely used in modern settings
- Acrylic hydrophobic - high refractive index but can cause glare
- Acrylic hydrophilic - best for biocompatibility
Consent / Risks associated with cataracts
- 0.1% risk of sight-threatening complications such as endophthalmitis, retinal detachment and choroidal haemorrhage
- The commonest intra-op complication is posterior capsular rupture with vitreous loss - 4% risk
- The commonest post-op complications is posterior capsular opacification, 10% risk in 2 years
Techniques for cataract surgery
Phacoemulsification surgery is the gold standard - It uses ultrasound and suction to break the cataract into small fragments and to remove it from the capsular bag.
Extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) is a manual operative method which has been superseded by phacoemulsification. It requires a larger incision, resulting in longer recovery and a higher risk for complications.
ECCE may still be used if the cataract is extremely hard and the surgeon is unable to break it with ultrasound.
Phacoemulsification Procedure
- Generic preparations with antiseptic, appropriate anaesthesia (typically topical or peribulbar) and mydriasis
- Cleaning the external ocular structures with 5% povidone-iodine (is the most important step in preventing endophthalmitis)
- main incision and 1/2 side ports created on the sclera using a blade or femtosecond laser
- Capsulorhexis - creation of a continuous curvilinear opening in the anterior capsular bag
- Hydrodissection - saline solution injected between the capsule and cortex to allow rotation
- Phacoemulsification - cataract broken with direct contact of the ultrasound tip on the nucleus and fragments aspirated
- IOL insertion - Fill bag with viscoelastic gel and inject IOL
- Remove viscoelastic gel
- Inject intracameral cefuroxime - another important step in preventing endophthalmitis
Benefit of the femtosecond laser
Is an automated method of creating reproducible incisions
What is the name of the ultrasound tip of the femtosecond laser?
What frequency does it vibrate at?
The ultrasound tip is called the phaco tip and it vibrates at 30-60kHz
4 main Intraoperative complications of catract surgery
- posterior capsular rupture
- zonular dehiscence
- dropped nucleus
- choroidal haemorrhage
Vitreous loss can also occur alongside these complications. The vitreous is encapsulated by the hyaloid membrane and vitreous loss occurs when this membrane is damaged and vitreous humour leaks. In these cases, the vitreous material is stained with triamcinolone and a vitrectomy is performed
Posterior Capsular Rupture
- Every effort is made to keep the capsular bag intact, so the IOL can be inserted.
- The posterior lens capsule is thinner than the anterior and is prone to rupture
- Typical signs include: sudden deepening of the anterior chamber and momentary pupillary dilation
- If there is a large rupture then it may not be possible to place the IOL implant within the capsular bag. In which case it can be placed anteriorly in the sulcus.
What is the most common intraoperative complication
Posterior capsular rupture with vitreous loss
Zonular Dehiscence
- Damage to the zonular fibres can make the lens unstable and complicate the surgical procedure
- Iris hooks can be used to secure the affected area and a capsular tension ring can be used to stabilize the lens capsule for the remainder of the procedure
What is floppy iris syndrome?
How does it affect cataract surgery
Floppy iris syndrome is when the iris is flaccid.
This complicates surgery because it gets in the way of the operation and isn’t fixed into position.
It is classically associated with alpha-blockers such as tamsulosin (a drug used in the management of prostatic hyperplasia)
Dropped Nucleus
- This is when lens nucleus fragments escape the capsular bag. This material is inflammatory
- Small fragments can be addressed with post-operative steroids
- Large fragments may need removal via vitrectomy
Choroidal Haemorrhage
- Bleeding from the choroid is a serious sight-threatening complication with a 0.1% risk of occurrence during surgery
- Typical signs include: suddenly elevated intraocular pressure, shallowed anterior chamber, darkening/loss of the red reflex and severe pain
- Management involves the immediate suturing all of wounds + IV acetazolamide/mannitol + topical steroids
Early post op complications
- Corneal oedema
- Endophthalmitis
Most common Early Postoperative Complication
Corneal oedema
Managed with topical steroids/NSAIDs. Return to the theatre if there is wound leakage or iris prolapse
Endophthalmitis presentation
- 0.1% risk after cataract surgery
- Sight threatening and required immediate treatment
- Typically occurs within the week of surgery
- Presents with pain, worsening vision and hypopyon (pus in the anterior chamber)
How is Endophthalmitis diagnosed?
Anterior chamber tap and vitreous biopsy are used for diagnosis and microbiology
Treatment of Endophthalmitis
- Intravitreal vancomycin + Ceftazidime or Amikacin
- Biopsy and antibiotics are administered simultaneously and can be repeated if there is a poor response
- Severe cases with very low visual acuity are treated with pars plana vitrectomy
What is the most important step to prevent endophthalmitis
To clean the external ocular structures with povidone iodine before the surgery. Infective agents are often transmitted from the patients’ own skin.
Late post op complications
- Cystoid Macular Oedema (CMO) (Irvine-Gass syndrome)
- Posterior Capsular Opacification (PCO)
Cystoid Macular Oedema (CMO) (Irvine-Gass syndrome)
- Tractional stress of surgery leads to the release of inflammatory mediators that cause oedematous fluid accumulation in perifoveal vessels around the macula
- Typically occurs within weeks of surgery
- Presents with painless blurry vision
- Diagnosis is made with OCT
Management of CMO
- Starting with steroid drops
- 2nd step to periocular triamcinolone
- 3rd step to intraocular steroids
- If medications fail then vitrectomy might prove useful
Posterior Capsular Opacification (PCO)
Posterior Capsular Opacification (PCO)
- 10% risk within 2 years
- Typically manifests as blurry vision some months after surgery
- Treatment with Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy
Aside from cataracts, list 2 other types of lens abnormalities
- Ectopia Lentis
- Lenticonus/globus
Ectopia Lentis
Ectopia lentis is the dislocation of the lens and it can be acquired or congenital. Changes in lens position distort the refraction of light and decrease visual acuity. Anterior dislocation in particular can obstruct the normal flow of aqueous and result in glaucoma.
The eye of a patient with homocystinuria. Note the light blue curved line at the centre of the pupil. This is the superior border of the lens, which shows inferior displacement
List 4 Congenital Causes of Ectopia lentis
- Familial ectopia lentis - Superotemporal displacement
- Marfan’s syndrome - Superotemporal displacement
- Homocystinuria - Inferonasal displacement
- Weill-Marchesani syndrome - Anterior inferior displacement
What is Congenital aphakia?
The complete absence of the lens.
It is caused by a FOX3 gene mutation.