AIM: To observe the ultrastructural changes of the lens in the human age-related cataract.

METHODS: The normal lens(3 cases), the lens epithelial cells(LECs)and nuclear of age-related cataract(5 cases)were observed by Philips-208 type transmission electron microscopy(TEM)and JSM-6380LV type scanning electron microscopy(SEM).

RESULTS: TEM: Compared with the normal lens, in 5 cases of age-related cataract, LECs of anterior capsular had a large number of irregular shape nuclear, chromatin condensation, mitochondria and other organelles in cytoplasm swelled. In some fiber cells of the cataract lens, the cell boundary was not so obvious with dissolution and necrosis. SEM: Cataract cortex lost the smoothness, fiber cells of the nucleus surface were deformation and compression, connection between the fiber cell changes.

CONCLUSION: The pathologic ultrastructural changes of the epithelial cells and fiber cells of the cortex and nucleus in lens may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of age-related cataract.