Natural Course of Elschnig Pearl Formation and Disappearance

作者：Findl Oliver^*; Neumayer Thomas; Hirnschall Nino; Buehl Wolf

来源：Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 2010, 51(3): 1547-1553.

DOI：10.1167/iovs.09-3989

PURPOSE. To observe and analyze the daily and weekly changes in morphology and size of Elschnig pearls in eyes with after-cataract.
METHODS. Pseudophakic eyes with pronounced regeneratory posterior capsule opacification (PCO) were included in this prospective study. High-resolution retroillumination images were taken, and the changes in size and shape of Elschnig pearls were analyzed at baseline and at 2, 7, and 14 days later using dedicated imaging software.
RESULTS. In total, 6309 Elschnig pearls in 85 eyes of 77 patients were analyzed. On average, four pearls were found per square millimeter (range, 0.2-9.7/mm(2); CV, 49.5%) with a mean cumulative area of 0.66 mm(2) (range, 0.03-2.18 mm(2); CV, 66.7%) of all marked pearls per eye and follow-up, which was 3.8% of the analyzed area. The mean pearl size was 9630 mu m(2) (range, 2390-33,745 mu m(2); CV, 61.0%) at baseline, which corresponded to a diameter of 174 mu m. The mean change of a pearl per day was 583 mu m(2) (range, 175-1631 mu m(2); CV, 55.4%) or a 6% change in area. In total, 36% (CV, 5.5%) of all pearls increased in size, 7% (CV, 8.6%) did not change, and 35% (CV, 6.7%) decreased in size during 1 week. Furthermore, 11% (CV, 6,3%) of all pearls newly appeared, and the same number disappeared (CV, 5.7%) within 1 week.
CONCLUSIONS. Elschnig pearls disappear and appear within days. The degree of progression and regression varies greatly between eyes. Knowledge about Elschnig pearl turnover may be of importance for attempts to modulate lens epithelial regeneration or lens regrowth and for lens-refilling procedures. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2010; 51: 1547-1553) DOI: 10.1167/iovs.09-3989

• 出版日期2010-3