Zhang JJ, et al. - In order to prevent posterior capsular opacification (PCO) after pediatric cataract surgery, researchers developed an osmotic-shock technique to remove human lens epithelial cells (LECs) in this laboratory study. A single or incremental hyper-osmotic shock (NaCl, 350–4000 mOsm/L) was conveyed to various tissue preparations of human LECs (cultured on coverslips/collagen-coated membrane inserts, human lens capsule biopsies, and lens organ cultured PCO models) in the presence of inhibitors of the Na+ -K+ -2Cl- cotransporter (to disable the regulatory volume increase (RVI) process). Observations suggest that in the presence of inhibitors of the RVI process, hyperosmotic shock effectively and rapidly detached LECs from their basement membranes. This technique may help to remove residual LECs left on the lens capsule after cataract surgery, and thus may reduce or eliminate the risk of aggressive cell proliferation and development of PCO.