• Responsible for lens growth and development 

• Important in maintaining homeostasis and lens transparency

 

Structure:

• Simple cuboidal epithelial cells

  • ​Which are arranged as a single layer located anteriorly to the lens among the lens fibre cells and capsule

  • At the equator, epithelial cells lengthen 

    • ​They become more pyramidal and columnar - form 'fibre cells'

    • This differentiation process involves cells losing their organelles - contributing to lens transparency

 

 

• Homeostasis, e.g. osmotic concentration of lens, is maintained through active transport of sodium and potassium ions via ion pumps

  • ​Disruption to pumps can cause cataract 

    • ​Due to increased intralenticular calcium and sodium ions and decreased potassium ions​

• Most mitotically active part of lens, therefore the epithelium:

  • ​Maintains normal lens function

  • Gives rise to stem cells and precursor cells - which form fibre cells