Lens capsule

Lens Capsule

The Lens Capsule is a component of the eye that encloses the lens and helps to maintain its shape and flexibility. It is a smooth, transparent basement membrane that is the thickest in the body and is made up of type IV collagen and glycoproteins.

Structure

The lens capsule is a transparent, elastic sac that surrounds the lens. It is composed of collagen and glycoproteins, and is produced by the lens epithelium. The capsule is thicker at the front (anterior) and thinner at the back (posterior), which allows for the lens to change shape for accommodation.

Function

The primary function of the lens capsule is to contain and protect the lens. It also plays a role in the lens's ability to change shape for accommodation, which is the process by which the eye adjusts its optical power to maintain a clear image or focus on an object as its distance varies.

Clinical significance

Damage to the lens capsule can lead to cataract formation. During cataract surgery, the surgeon makes an opening in the front of the lens capsule (a process known as capsulorhexis) to remove the cloudy lens. The back of the lens capsule is usually left intact to serve as a place for the artificial lens implant.

See also

• Eye
• Lens (anatomy)
• Cataract
• Capsulorhexis

Lens capsule Resources
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