Capsule of lens

Capsule of Lens

File:Lens - anterior view2.png

Anterior view of the lens, showing the lens capsule

The Capsule of Lens is a component of the eye that encloses the lens and helps to maintain its shape and transparency. It is a smooth, transparent basement membrane that is secreted by the lens epithelium.

Structure

The capsule of lens is the thickest basement membrane in the body, with a thickness of 2-28 μm. It is composed of four layers: the anterior capsule, the equatorial capsule, the posterior capsule, and the internal limiting membrane. The capsule is stronger in the anterior and equatorial regions than in the posterior region.

Function

The primary function of the lens capsule is to contain and protect the lens. It also plays a crucial role in the accommodation process, which is the ability of the eye to change its focus from distant to near objects. The capsule provides a surface for the attachment of the ciliary muscle fibers, which contract and relax to change the shape of the lens and thus adjust the eye's focus.

Clinical significance

In certain eye conditions such as cataract, the lens becomes cloudy and needs to be removed. During cataract surgery, the surgeon makes an opening in the front part of the lens capsule to remove the cloudy lens. The back part of the capsule is left in place to hold the artificial lens. This procedure is known as "capsulorhexis".

See also

• Eye anatomy
• Cataract surgery
• Lens (anatomy)