Growth of the Human Eye Lens
Author Information
Author(s): Robert C. Augusteyn
Primary Institution: Institute for Eye Research, Sydney, Australia
Hypothesis
To analyze human lens growth from the accumulation of wet weight as a function of age.
Conclusion
Human lens growth occurs in two distinct modes: a rapid growth phase during prenatal development followed by a linear growth phase throughout life.
Supporting Evidence
- Human lens growth occurs in two distinct phases.
- The first phase is rapid during prenatal development.
- The second phase is linear, adding 1.38 mg/year throughout life.
- There are no significant gender differences in lens weights.
- Variability in lens weights can affect growth rate estimates.
Takeaway
The human eye lens grows quickly before birth and then grows slowly at a steady rate for the rest of life.
Methodology
Wet weights were collected for over 1,100 human lenses and analyzed using various growth models.
Potential Biases
Data from lenses stored in eye banks may have been affected by swelling, potentially skewing growth rate estimates.
Limitations
Variability in lens weights due to tissue handling and the unavailability of statistical data for averaged sets limited the analysis.
Participant Demographics
Data included 138 male and 64 female lenses.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.46
Statistical Significance
p=0.46
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