Analysis of zonular-free zone and lens size in relation to axial length of eye with age

Purpose: To evaluate the anatomical relationships of the zonular-free zone (ZFZ) of the anterior capsule and crystalline lens diameter in relation to the axial length of the eye with age. Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College bi Medicine, Seoul, Korea, and Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA. Method: Various ocular structures in 122 eyes obtained post-mortem were measured without prior preparation. The correlation between age, anterior-posterior (A-P) length and globe size, and diameters of the cornea, crystalline lens, and ZFZ were analyzed. Results: The average A-P globe length, and corneal, lens, and ZFZ diameters were 24.48, 11.67, 9.65, and 6.93 mm, respectively. There was no significant relationship between A-P length and globe size and corneal diameter in different age groups. The ZFZ size varied negligibly among age groups. There was a statistically significant correlation between lens diameter ard age (correlation coefficient = 0.2647; P < .01) and lens diameter and A-P globe length (correlation coefficient = 0.3183; P < .001). Conclusions: When choosing an intraocular lens, one should consider the patient's age and the A-P globe length. Six eyes (5 %) showed unusual anterior insertion of zonular attachment, which reminds us to be prudent with a large paracentral capsulorhexis.