Intraocular chemical injury results in extensive cytopathological changes in the retropupillary region of the lens. The epithelial cells exhibit cytolysis and superficial fibers are damaged. Cellular debris is also noted throughout the innermost aspect of an otherwise intact capsule. The injured region is repopulated by cells which migrate into the wound focus to form a multilayered epithelium. Lysis of the damaged capsular regions, in addition to phagocytolysosomal activity by the incoming epithelial cells, appears to play a major role in the restoration of capsule morphology and in the normalization of the epithelial monolayer and the cortical fibers. Autolysosomes and/or cytolysosomes detected in the multilayered epithelium are prime candidates for the removal of tissue debris from the injured lens. Reversal of the retropupillary opacity coincides with the restoration of lens cytoarchitecture.