Abstract
(1) Changes with age in the Young's modulus of elasticity of human lens capsule and Bruch's membrane have been determined. In lens capsule the modulus decreases with age whereas in Bruch's membrane it increases.
(2) Changes with age in the hydraulic conductivity of the human lens capsule and Bruch's membrane have also been determined and again show opposite changes with age. In the former membrane the hydraulic conductivity increases while in the latter it decreases.
(3) The ageing changes in the respective membranes indicate that, in man, some time after 100 years in all cases the lens capsule would have a similar hydraulic conductivity to lenses with advanced cataract, while in the same subject Bruch's membrane would have lost its permeability to water.
Article PDF
References
Fisher RF, Wakely J : The elastic constants and ultra-structural organization of basement membrane (lens capsule). Proc. R. Soc. B. 1976, 193: 335–58.
Sumita R : Electron microscopic study of the choroid the fine structure of Bruch's membrane (lamina vitre a) in the choroid. Acta. Soc. Ophthalmol. Jap. 1961, 65: 1188–203.
Kornzweig AL : Changes in choriocapillaris associated with senile macular degeneration. Ann. Ophthalmol. 1977, 9: 753–64.
Grindle CFJ, Marshall J : Ageing changes in Bruch's membrane and their functional implications. Trans. Ophthalmol. Soc. UK 1978, 98: 172–5.
Fisher RF : Elastic constants of the human lens capsule. J. Physiol. 1969, 201: 1–19.
Fisher RF : The water permeability of basement membrane under increasing pressure: evidence for a new theory of permeability. Proc. R. Soc. B. 1982, 216: 415–96.
Fisher RF, Hayes BP : Thickness and volume constants and ultrastructural organization of basement membrane (lens capsule). J. Physiol. 1979, 293: 229–45.
Feher J, Valu L : Ageing changes of collagenous fibres of the choroid; investigation by polorization optics. Graefes. Arch. Klin. and Exper. Ophthalmol. 1967, 172: 249–53.
Zurin KM, Henkind JVB : The retinal pigment epithelium. Chapter 1, pp 11–13. Cambridge Massachusetts Harvard University Press, 1979.
Fisher RF : Eye disease and the ageing population (Treacher Collins Essay Prize). Trans. Ophthalmol. Soc. UK 1971, 91, 415–34.
Fisher RF : Changes in the permeability of the lens capsule in senile cataract. Trans. Ophthalmol. Soc. UK 1977, 97, 50–103.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fisher, R. The influence of age on some ocular basement membranes. Eye 1, 184–189 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1987.35
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1987.35
This article is cited by
-
The impact of substrate stiffness on morphological, transcriptional and functional aspects in RPE
Scientific Reports (2024)
-
Design and Characterization of Biomimetic Kerateine Aerogel-Electrospun Polycaprolactone Scaffolds for Retinal Cell Culture
Annals of Biomedical Engineering (2021)
-
Retinal Pigment Epithelial Detachment in Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Ophthalmology and Therapy (2020)
-
The 2014 Bowman Lecture—Bowman’s and Bruch’s: a tale of two membranes during the laser revolution
Eye (2015)