Age-related differences in the human vitreoretinal interface
J. Sebag
Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Age-related differences in vitreoretinal adhesion were investigated in 59
human eyes from donors aged from 33 weeks of gestation to 94 years with the
use of dark-field and electron microscopy of whole vitreous. In all eyes
from individuals aged 21 years or older, dissection of the retina off the
vitreous resulted in cleavage between the vitreous cortex and the internal
limiting lamina. However, in six (40%) of 15 eyes from individuals aged 20
years or younger, the internal limiting lamina remained adherent to the
vitreous cortex in an area that encompassed the macula, temporal arcades,
and peripapillary posterior pole. Ultrastructural studies revealed inner
portions of Muller's cells that were attached to the posterior aspect of
the internal limiting lamina. These results suggested that, in youth, there
is adhesion between the vitreous cortex and internal limiting lamina that
is stronger than Muller's cell itself and is topographically more extensive
than previously thought.
