title: Observation of posterior precortical vitreous pocket using swept-source optical coherence tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe posterior precortical vitreous pockets (PPVPs) using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed SS-OCT in both eyes of 58 volunteers (36 men, 22 women) using 12-mm horizontal vertical scans through the macula and optic disc. To minimize age-related changes (liquefaction or posterior vitreous detachment), all subjects were a mean of 26.2 years (range, 22-40 years). The refractive errors ranged from -9.5 diopters (D) to +3.0 D. To estimate the PPVP size, we measured the height between the fovea and the anterior border of the PPVP and the maximal width in the 12-mm horizontal scan through the fovea and disc.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SS-OCT visualized the PPVPs as boat-shaped lacunae in the macular area bilaterally in all subjects (maximal width, 3114-9887 μm; mean width, 6420.6; central height, 208-1877 μm; mean height, 708.1 in the right eyes, with no significant difference in the left eyes). There was a significant correlation between the PPVP height and myopic refractive error. The posterior wall of the PPVP was a thin vitreous cortex, thinnest at the fovea. The septum was between the nasal border of the pocket and Cloquet's canal, which extended forward and tilted superiorly in all cases. A channel connected Cloquet's canal and the PPVPs bilaterally in 54 (93.1%) of 58 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SS-OCT clarified the boat-shaped PPVP structure in vivo. Although the central height increased with the myopic refractive error, the width was unchanged. A channel connecting Cloquet's canal and PPVP suggested the route of aqueous humor into the PPVP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gunma University, School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan. itakurah@med.gunma-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hirotaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Itakura
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kishi
authors.forename: Danjie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akiyama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002829:Choroid / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cloquet's canal; channel; posterior precortical vitreous pocket; swept-source optical coherence tomography; vitreous humor