Linsenkapsel

Linsenkapsel, also known as the lens capsule, is a transparent, elastic membrane that surrounds the lens of the human eye. It is primarily composed of a basement membrane formed from collagen fibers and covered by a thin epithelial cell layer. The capsule plays a crucial role in maintaining the shape and integrity of the crystalline lens, as well as in facilitating accommodation and lens regeneration.

The lens capsule is approximately 10 to 20 micrometers thick and is thickest at the central part. Its elasticity allows the lens to change shape during focusing, a process controlled by the ciliary muscles and the zonular fibers. The capsule also serves as an anchoring point for the zonules, which suspend the lens in the eye's anterior chamber.

During eye surgeries such as cataract extraction, the lens capsule is often carefully removed or manipulated. A common technique involves creating an opening in the anterior capsule, known as capsulorhexis, to access and remove the cloudy lens material while preserving the capsule for the implantation of intraocular lenses.

Pathological conditions affecting the lens capsule include capsule opacification, which can occur after cataract surgery, leading to decreased vision. Additionally, congenital conditions like capsule weakness may lead to lens dislocation or subluxation.

The lens capsule's structural integrity and functional properties are essential for normal vision. Its detailed understanding is vital in ophthalmology, especially in surgical procedures and the treatment of lens-related disorders.