Subcapsular Zones of Discontinuity in the Human Lens

Zones of discontinuity parallel to the lens surface can be seen in the normal lens on slitlamp examination. These zones have been suggested to be surfaces at which the refractive index changes from one value to another. Normal lenses from tumor eyes have been examined by quantitative microradiography. The protein concentrations has been determined in thin sections from the anterior cortex. These measurements revealed jumps in the protein concentration at the same location as the zones of discontinuity. The magnitude of these jumps corresponds to changes of the refractive index that can explain the increased scatter of light in the zones of discontinuity.