Lens cells: More than meets the eye

Lens cells originate from the head ectoderm and differentiate into an avascular organ constituted from two contiguous cell subpopulations of very different morphology. Lens cells, together with comeal cells, are responsible for the transmission and focusing of light onto the retina. Loss of transparency within the lens, via disruption of membrane transport or protein aggregation, results in cataract. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.