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Age-dependent changes in the basal retinovitreous adhesion
Jing Wang1, David McLeod, David B Henson
1Research Group in Eye and Vision Science, School of Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|April 26, 2003
Summary
The posterior vitreous base widens with age, especially in males and nasally. Collagen invasion of the inner limiting lamina creates stronger adhesion, increasing risks of retinal tears after posterior vitreous detachment (PVD).
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Retinal Biology
- Vitreoretinal Interface
Background:
- Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) can lead to retinal tears and detachment.
- The posterior vitreous base and its adhesion to the retina are critical factors in PVD complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure the posterior vitreous base width across different human age groups.
- To investigate the nature of retinovitreous adhesion contributing to juxtabasal retinal tears following PVD.
Main Methods:
- Indocyanine green staining and mechanical peeling to delineate the posterior vitreous base in 58 donor eye pairs.
- Image analysis to quantify residual retinovitreous adhesion.
- Scanning electron microscopy of the inner limiting lamina (ILL) after trypsin digestion.
Main Results:
- The posterior vitreous base dimension increases with age, is wider in males than females, and larger nasally than temporally.
- Collagen fibrils progressively invade the peripheral retina, forming braids beneath the ILL and eventually a dense sublaminar mat.
- Collagen fibrils penetrate the ILL via defects and integrate with basal gel fibrils.
Conclusions:
- Aging causes posterior migration of the vitreous base border, creating an eccentric adhesion band.
- Intraretinal collagen synthesis, ILL penetration, and vitreous fibril splicing contribute to evolving retinovitreous adhesion.