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From the Department of Physics, University of Texas at Arlington, Dallas, Texas.
| Abstract |
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METHODS. Real-time topography of the anterior surface of seven fully relaxed, freshly extracted intact, clear, human crystalline lenses aged 3, 17, 45, 54, 54, 56, and 56 years was qualitatively obtained before, during, and after the application of zonular traction. Zonular traction was applied manually either by grasping a group of zonules 180° apart with tying forceps (three lenses), or with micrometers by clamping four portions of the ciliary body that were 90° apart (four lenses).
RESULTS. Zonular tension began with the lenses in the fully relaxed, baseline state. As zonular tension was increased across one meridian of all seven lenses, the center of the anterior surface steepened while the periphery of the anterior surface flattened across that meridian of traction. When the tension was reduced across that meridian of traction, the center of the lens flattened while the periphery steepened in that meridian. Four-point zonular traction applied 90° apart produced symmetrical central steepening (four lenses). Reduction of zonular tension across both orthogonal meridians caused symmetrical central flattening.
CONCLUSIONS. These observations reveal that when zonular tension is applied to the fully relaxed lens, the center steepens and its periphery flattens in the meridian (or meridians) in which zonular tension is applied. The reverse of this process demonstrates that as tension is reduced, the center of the lens flattens while the periphery steepens either in the meridian of relaxation or symmetrically when zonular tension is released from two orthogonal meridians. These results are opposite to what would have been predicted on the basis of Helmholtzs theory of accommodation.
This study was undertaken to observe qualitatively the real-time changes in topography of the anterior surface of freshly extracted intact relaxed human crystalline lenses as zonular tension was increased from the baseline, relaxed state. This study provided dynamic visual evidence of the effect of zonular tension on the topography of the central anterior surface of the crystalline lens. The observations can have important implications in understanding the mechanism associated with the accommodative process.
| Methods |
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A topographer (Keratron Scout; Eyequip, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL) was rigidly mounted on an optical bench (Fig. 1) . A group of zonules were grasped with curved, fine, nontoothed, smooth-tying forceps (model 8-0115; Rhein Medical Inc., Tampa, FL) on each side of the 3-, 17-, and 45-year-old crystalline lenses (180° apart). From this baseline, fully relaxed state, traction was slowly manually applied while topography was dynamically monitored. A video camera (model 4815-2000; Cohu, San Diego, CA, with a Macro-Cinegon 1:1, 8/10-mm lens; Leica Microsystems, Bannockburn, IL) was attached to a DVD recorder (DMR-HS2; Panasonic, Osaka Japan) for continuous recording of the image screen of the topographer. Increasing tension was slowly applied while the change in mires was monitored. Once the pattern was noted on the monitor to be elliptical, the tension was slowly relaxed.
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A similar procedure was performed with the two 54-year-old crystalline lenses, except that the sections of ciliary body that were clamped were separated from the nonclamped ciliary body by making radial incisions through the ciliary body on each side of the aluminum strip. The amount of tension applied was not quantified.
The Keratron Scout topographer that was used in this study can obtain only quantitative topography at a fixed, very short working distance that cannot be altered or adjusted. This short fixed working distance, required to obtain quantitative measurements, was too close to permit insertion of the forceps to grasp the zonules, or to allow the ring with the attached micrometers and clamps to fit under the micrometer. Therefore, only qualitative data were obtained in this study.
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| Discussion |
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The present observations are opposite to those reported by Glasser and Campbell5 and Koopmans et al.,6 who demonstrated a decrease in central optical power with increased zonular tension using laser scanning optical power measurements of extracted human crystalline lenses. The differences observed could result from having commenced the measurements with the lenses at higher than physiologic levels of baseline tension. Glasser and Campbell5 specifically state that: "the zonular fibers were not flaccid but were extended without actually being stretched." In addition, the crystalline lenses used by Glasser and Campbell5 and Koopman et al.6 may have been subject to post mortem changes. The applicability of in vitro observations to the in vivo changes associated with zonular traction depends, in part, on the functional equivalence of the lenses used to actual living tissue. The fresh lenses of the present study maintained in a physiologic solution, offered tissue that was very similar in quality to its in vivo state. Optisol-GS (Bausch & Lomb) has been demonstrated to maintain the corneal epithelium with minimal damage for 5 days.7 The storage of human crystalline lenses in Optisol-GS has been observed in our laboratory to maintain central thickness and lenticular clarity for 4 days.2
In 1896, Stadfeldt8 applied zonular tension to extracted human crystalline lenses and measured the change in central radius of curvature with a Javal ophthalmometer. With zonular tension he found that the central anterior radius of curvature steepened. He observed that the peripheral anterior surface flattened, but did not quantify this aspect of the accommodative process. The present study, using real-time topography of the intact extracted human crystalline lens, confirms Stadfeldts observations. The dynamic changes provide additional support to his earlier observationthat is, the central anterior radius of curvature steepens and the peripheral anterior surface flattens with zonular tension.
Although in this study zonular traction was applied in either one meridian or two orthogonal meridians, we can generalize that, if zonular traction were applied over 360°, the central crystalline lens surface would similarly steepen. According to the principle of Saint-Venant,9 the influence of a distributing force over 360° versus four symmetrically placed forces should have a negligible effect on the results, because the center of the surface of the lens is far away from the equator where the pulling force is applied. In agreement with Saint-Venants principle, a nonlinear, finite element model of human crystalline lens accommodation has demonstrated that zonular traction from eight symmetrical positions around the lens results in the same surface changes as a 360° zonular tractional force.10
The present experiment involved simultaneous traction on all zonular elementsthat is, the anterior, equatorial, and posterior zonules. The well-documented relaxation of the anterior and posterior zonules during accommodation,11 12 with simultaneous and continued stability of the position of the crystalline lens during accommodation13 14 15 (Sokolowska A, et al. IOVS 2002;43:ARVO E-Abstract 2015) is consistent with the theory in Schachar and Bax3 and Schachar16 17 18 that lenticular accommodation occurs exclusively because of increased equatorial zonular tension. Nonlinear finite element analysis of accommodation has demonstrated that when tension is applied to all three sets of zonules of the relaxed human crystalline lens, there is steepening of the central surfaces, flattening of the peripheral surfaces, and increases in central thickness and central optical power.3 However, this same analysis predicts that traction applied specifically only to the equatorial zonules is more efficient than applying traction to all the zonules simultaneously; that is, for a given amount of zonular traction to the equatorial zonules alone, there is a greater increase in central optical power. Demonstrating this difference experimentally would be extremely difficult, because the equatorial zonules are very thin, 5 to 15 µm in diameter,19 and difficult to segregate from the other zonules.
During pharmacologically induced accommodation, there is an increase in equatorial diameter and an increase in the central optical power, as demonstrated by in vivo ultrasound biomicroscopy of human20 and primate21 crystalline lenses. Our findings on freshly preserved lenses support and are consistent with these in vivo studies.
In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) experiments during voluntary in vivo human accommodation, investigators have claimed to demonstrate a decrease in equatorial diameter associated with accommodation.22 23 Calculation of the mean decrease in equatorial diameter of eight of the MRI subjects of Strenk et al.22 aged 22 to 29.2 years (mean, 25.5 years) for an 8-D accommodative stimulus was 604 ± 167 (SD) µm. In contrast, for a 6.7-D accommodative stimulus, the eight MRI subjects of Demer et al.23 with a mean age of 24 ± 4 (SD) years had a statistically insignificant decrease in equatorial diameter of 100 ± 200 (SD) µmthat is, in some of the subjects, the equatorial diameter actually increased by 100 µm. The difference in outcomes can be attributed to the variation in resolution, precision, and accuracy and the lack of accounting for eye movements,24 25 26 such as excyclotorsion,27 that occur during accommodation.
Other in vivo human and primate experiments have also demonstrated that the crystalline lens equator decreases in diameter during accommodation.12 28 29 Our careful analysis of these studies reveals a systematic error. There appears to be movement between the imaging device and the eye. Measurement of the thickness of the cornea in the accommodated and unaccommodated state reveals a change in corneal thickness. Since neither corneal curvature nor corneal thickness changes during accommodation,27 30 these experiments are flawed.
Storey and Rabie31 in 1985 placed an A-scan ultrasound probe over the temporal sclera in line with the lens equator of seated human subjects. They measured the change in equatorial diameter of the lens equator during voluntary accommodation, assuming no eye rotation between measurements. Their data demonstrate that the nasal lens equator actually moves away from the temporal sclera during accommodation. This finding can be interpreted as consistent with our observation of increasing lenticular equatorial diameter associated with accommodation. Unfortunately, the position of the temporal lens equator echo was highly variable because of movements of the probe and the eye. Therefore, their use of the time between the temporal and nasal lens equatorial echoes to determine the changes in lens diameter during accommodation was unreliable.
Investigators have incorrectly used the pupil as a reference to measure lenticular changes during accommodation. In 1997, Wilson32 used retroillumination of infrared radiation to measure the equatorial diameter of an albino patients crystalline lens during pharmacologically controlled accommodation. He stated that, "measurement was taken in frames where the circular light was concentric with the pupil, guaranteeing no angle deformity." During pupillary constriction the pupil moves nasally and becomes eccentric.33 34 35 Therefore, for Wilson to keep the circular light concentric with the pupil, the alignment between the eye and the camera would have had to be changed between the measurements made of the unaccommodated and accommodated states. The presence of rotation of the eye relative to the axis of the camera is readily verified by measuring the horizontal diameter of the cornea in the unaccommodated (Fig. 3 of Wilson32 ) and accommodated (Fig. 4 of Wilson32 ) states. The percentage change of the horizontal corneal diameter and the horizontal diameter of the crystalline lens, as determined by measuring the distance between the vertical cursor marks shown in Wilsons Figures 3 and 4 , is approximately the same.
Using Scheimpflug photography, Dubbelman et al.36 in 2003 claimed that there are internal changes in the crystalline lens during accommodation. The authors changed the position of the target, a Maltese star, "until the corneal reflex returned to the center of the pupil," in an attempt to correct for the convergence that occurs during accommodation. Their method for addressing convergence artifact only insured that their images were not obtained in the same plane, since the pupil had shifted during the accommodative process.
Glasser and Kaufman37 stated that the small amount of spurious eye movement observed in their in vivo primate experiments could not account for the changes in the crystalline lens size and configuration during Edinger-Westphal nucleus or pharmacologic stimulation. They provided no controls to support this statement. When the artifactious extraocular eye movements were eliminated from their ultrasound biomicroscopic (UBM) images of the primate crystalline lens equator by using objective computer image-analysis techniques, the equator of the lens was demonstrated to move in an outward direction with accommodation (Schachar RA, Kamangar F, manuscript submitted). This is a finding consistent with our observations.
The present study demonstrates dynamically the changes in configuration of the human crystalline lens associated with zonular traction from a baseline tensionless state. With an increase in lenticular equatorial diameter due to zonular traction, there is an observed steepening of the central anterior radius of curvature and a flattening of the peripheral anterior surface.
| Conclusion |
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| Footnotes |
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Disclosure: R.A. Schachar, Refocus Group (I)
The publication costs of this article were defrayed in part by page charge payment. This article must therefore be marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C.
1734 solely to indicate this fact.
Corresponding author: Ronald A. Schachar, Box 601149, Dallas, TX 75360; ron{at}2ras.com.
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This article has been cited by other articles:
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R A Schachar and D K Fygenson Topographical changes of biconvex objects during equatorial traction: an analogy for accommodation of the human lens Br. J. Ophthalmol., December 1, 2007; 91(12): 1698 - 1703. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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A. Glasser, M. Wendt, and L. Ostrin Accommodative Changes in Lens Diameter in Rhesus Monkeys Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., January 1, 2006; 47(1): 278 - 286. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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