Scanning electron microscopy of the fovea after spontaneous vitreous detachment
Kishi, S.; Demaria, C.; Yamazaki, S.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi 89(11): 1251-1257
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-0203 PMID: 4091097 Document Number: 251431
We performed a scanning electron microscopic observation of the posterior retinal surface of 59 autopsy eyes with spotaneous vitreous detachment. In 26 eyes (44%), there were remnants of the hyaloid membrnae, or the outermost layer of cortical vitreous, in the pre- or perifoveal region. These hyaloid remnants manifested various shapes. They appeared as tiny, disc-shaped collagenous membranes covering the fovea, as pseudomacular holes, or causing perifoveal radial retinal folds. Eacxh of these patterns seemed to have a counterpart to various known clinical situations. These findings imply that remnants of the hyaloid membrane remain attached to the fovea after apparent complete posterior vitreous detachment at a high frequency. The observed features would provide morphological basis to interpret, from a new point of view, several clinical conditions that take place along the vitreoretinal interface in the fovea.