Variations of Weiss's ring.
BACKGROUND
Weiss's ring is an important index for diagnosing a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). The authors studied the configurations of Weiss's ring because the ring has several variations.


METHODS
Weiss's ring was examined biomicroscopically in 223 eyes with PVD and documented videographically using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope. The configurations of Weiss's ring were classified into four groups: a complete ring, a partial ring, a ball-like opacity, and a hole without a ring.


RESULTS
In the 223 eyes with PVD, Weiss's ring was categorized as a complete ring in 63 eyes (28.3%), a partial ring in 128 eyes (57.4%), a ball-like opacity in 17 eyes (7.6%), and a hole without a ring in 15 eyes (6.7%). A complete ring was observed in 8 (57.1%) of 14 eyes with hyperopia (+3 diopters or more), in 25 (28.7%) of 87 eyes with emmetropia (between -1 and +1 diopter), and in 10 (16.1%) of 62 eyes with myopia (-3 diopters or more). Six months after the initial examinations, the contour of Weiss's ring remained unchanged in 86 (96.6%) of 89 eyes with fresh PVD.


CONCLUSIONS
Scanning laser ophthalmoscope is a useful tool for observing Weiss's ring. A "classic" annular opacity around a hole in the prepapillary posterior vitreous cortex represents less than one third of the configurations of Weiss's ring, indicating that the term "ring" is erroneous.
Akiba
J
J
Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical College, 2-1-1-1 Midorigaoka Higashi, Asahikawa 078-8510, Japan. jakiba@iris.ocn.ne.jp
Ishiko
S
S
Yoshida
A
A
D000368:Aged; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy / Q000379:methods; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000473:pathology*; D020255:Vitreous Detachment / Q000175:diagnosis*