Comprised of: 64% water, 35% protein & 1% lipid

• Majority of this protein exists as a group of crystallins (α, β & γ) 

 

Found between the iris and in front of the vitreous body 

• It is suspended by the zonules of zinn

  • These fibres contribute to accommodation - the ability to change the shape of the lens and focus light onto the retina, so objects can be viewed at different distances. 

 

During embryonic development, the adult lens is derived from surface ectoderm and grows throughout life by accumulation of new cells

• These cells occur near the lens equator, lengthening and pushing mature cells into the lens centre

 

With age, transparency deteriorates, causing increasing light scatter, colouration and decreasing elasticity