Histology of anterior capsule fibrosis following phacoemulsification

PURPOSE: To determine the histology and immunohistochemistry of anterior capsule fibrosis. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology and Neurosurgery and Institute of Pathology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. METHODS: Tissue sections from 3 patients with anterior capsule fibrosis after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation were examined histologically. RESULTS: The proliferating tissue was devoid of vessels and composed of dense fibrous tissue and numerous activated fibroblasts with contractile capacity (myofibroblasts). No TGF-beta, which is the most important cytokine in modulating myofibroblasts, was present in the fibrotic tissue. CONCLUSION: The absence of the cytokine TGF-beta and inflammatory cells in the proliferating tissue confirms the unique character of the reparative activity within the eye.