Microsurgical treatment of lens capsule perforations. Part I: Experimental research.

Although perforating injuries of the lens capsule typically lead to traumatic cataract in humans and rats, capsular healing is observed regularly in injured rabbits and dogs. This is most likely because protein exudation in rabbits and dogs is much greater than that in humans and rats. Using isolated white Wistar rat lenses, rat lenses in vivo, and isolated human lenses, we attempted both to replace lens protein as well as develop techniques for microsurgically closing the capsule by applying a fibrinogen-based tissue adhesive. This application was effective in preventing traumatic cataract. Use of a fibrinogen-glued capsule graft yielded similarly good (but not better) results.