What is suspensory ligaments of lens?

The suspensory ligaments of the lens are a series of thin, fibrous fibers that attach the lens of the eye to the ciliary body. These ligaments are important for maintaining the shape and position of the lens, and for allowing it to change its shape to focus on objects at different distances.

The suspensory ligaments are also known as zonular fibers and are composed of a mixture of collagen, elastic fibers, and glycosaminoglycans. They originate from the ciliary body and insert into the lens capsule.

When the ciliary muscle contracts, it pulls on the suspensory ligaments, causing them to slacken and allowing the lens to become more rounded for near vision. Conversely, when the ciliary muscle relaxes, the suspensory ligaments become taut and the lens becomes flatter for distant vision.

Dysfunction of the suspensory ligaments can lead to conditions such as presbyopia, cataracts, and ectopia lentis (dislocation of the lens).