[Scanning electron microscopic findings of the premacular vitreous in eyes without posterior vitreous detachment].
We examined the posterior vitreous of 24 normal autopsy eyes without posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) by biomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). When the gel component was stained with fluorescein and the specimen was immersed in water, the vitreous cortex showed extreme attenuation at the premacular area and the lacuna (posterior precortical vitreous pocket: PPVP) was present in front of the vitreous cortex. In SEM photographs the same position, the vitreous cortex was observed as a cellophane-like membrane overlying the retina at the magnification of approximately 40-100 x. The meshwork structure of the cellophane-like membrane could be seen at the magnification of approximately 1,000 x. The size of the fibers forming the mesh was compatible with that of vitreous collagen fibers. The smooth surface of internal limiting membrane was observed beneath the fibrous membrane. We confirmed that the vitreous cortex was present as a fibrous membrane separated from the gel component in eyes with no PVD.
Tamura
T
T
Department of Ophthalmology, Gunma University School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan.
Kishi
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D019793:Fluorescein; D005452:Fluoresceins; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D005452:Fluoresceins; D003094:Collagen; D019793:Fluorescein