J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1999 Aug;40(8):2259-2266.

A Histopathological Study on the Production of Exfoliation Material in Eyes with Exfoliation Syndrome

• Nam H
• Park WS
• Roh YB

Abstract

The hallmark of exfoliation syndrome is the appearance of white granular deposits and dandruff-like flakes on the lens,iris and angle. The incidence of glaucoma is high,and due to zonular weakening, complications are likely to occur in cataract surgery. A histopathological study with electron microscopy was performed on the iris and conjunctival tissue in order to clarify the production process of exfoliation material in the eyes with exfoliation syndrome. The materials were obtained from 13 eyes with exfoliation syndrome during surgery for glaucoma or cataract. The clumps of microfibrils were observed in the extracellular matrix, and the exfoliation materials were closely related with microfibrils.It was found that the basic unit of the exfoliation materials was microfibril. The cellular degenerations were observed in the basement membrane of capillary endothelium, especially the cells near the iris vessels. The exfoliation materials were observed around the degenerated cells; the mature or immature exfoliation materials around the iris melanocyte which show the various degrees of degeneration. The more degeneration and melting of the cells, the larger amount of exfoliation materials. This study suggests that the exfoliation materials in the eyes with exfoliation syndrome are derived from the abnormal microfibril, abnormal basement membrane, and degenerated cell itself.

Keyword

Exfoliation material; Exfoliation syndrome; Histopathology; Microfibril

MeSH Terms

Basement Membrane
Cataract
Endothelium, Vascular
Exfoliation Syndrome*
Extracellular Matrix
Freezing
Glaucoma
Incidence
Iris
Melanocytes
Microfibrils
Microscopy, Electron