Fig. 9. A. Dark nucleus floating within a liquefied, “milky” cortex settled inferiorly because of gravity. B. Hypermature cataract characterized by a wrinkled anterior capsule (a). No cortex is present (it has liquefied and leaked out); only the nucleus (N) is present. Homogeneity of the nucleus marks it as cataractous. A calcium oxalate crystal (arrow) is present in the nucleus; p' = posterior capsule of lens. A calcium oxalate crystal can be seen within the nucleus before (C) and after (D) polarization. (A, courtesy of Dr. G. Naumann, × 100; D, polarized, H & E × 100) |