Patients ages 80 and older may be at an increased risk for capsular delamination or lens dislocation, due to the presence of lamellar structures, which occur in the anterior capsule during aging and suggest lens capsule fragility, reported a recent study in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.1

Specifically, out of 25 eyes in patients age 80 or older that underwent cataract surgery, 20 eyes (80%) had lamellar structures, 5 eyes had homogeneous structures, and 1 showed capsular delamination. In comparison, out of 25 eyes in patients age 65 or younger who underwent the procedure, 20 eyes (80%) had a homogeneous lens capsule, and 5 eyes had lamellar structures. The only major factor for lamellar structures was age group (P < .01, nominal logistic regression analysis), according to the study.
           
The researchers arrived at this conclusion after comparing backscattered electron images of the cross-section of the anterior lens capsule under a scanning electron microscope between the two age groups.

1. Hirata A, Mine K, Hayashi K. Age-related appearance of lamellar structures in lens capsule of cataractous eyes and its pathological significance. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2022 1;48(7): 844-849.