Remnants of the anterior tunica vasculosa lentis and long anterior lens zonules.

Purpose: To investigate presence of remnants of the tunica vasculosa lentis, a possible indication of anterior segment dysgenesis, in subjects with the long anterior zonule (LAZ) trait.

Methods: Retroillumination photographs of the pupil region had been collected in earlier study of the LAZ trait in African Americans. Secondary image analysis was performed to assess the frequency of intact persistent pupillary membrane iris strands (PPMIS).

Results: The analysis included 148 subjects, comprised of 74 LAZ subjects (median age=70 y; range, 50 to 91 y; 64 females) and 74 controls (68 y; 50 to 83 y; 64 females). While controlling for age and sex, analysis showed that LAZ subjects were 3.1 times more likely than controls (odds ratio=3.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-6.7; P=0.004) to exhibit PPMIS in at least one of their eyes.

Conclusion: The LAZ trait, which is being studied as a potential risk factor for glaucoma, was associated with presence of PPMIS in our study population.