ANTERIOR CAPSULAR CATARACT: AN EXAMPLE OF TRUE METAPLASIA

The particular nature of the so-called anterior capsular cataract has never been exactly defined. Regarding its pathogenesis, there exists less difference of opinion. As the name indicates, proliferation of the cells belonging to the anterior epithelium of the lens has been generally accepted as the essential factor in the formation of the anterior capsular cataract. However, the nature of the tissue formed from this proliferation of the epithelial cells has been only suggested. Beer1in 1817 described the clinical appearance of anterior capsular cataract. Muller2in 1857 discussed the histologic changes and concluded that the new-formed layers show transition to masses of anomalous structure, for example, fibrous tissue. The English pathologists Parsons3and Collins and Mayou4described the tissue forming the anterior capsular cataract as being composed of flattened epithelial cells and their processes. Hess5mentioned only the proliferation of the epithelial cells