[Retinoschisis. 1. Diagnosis, classification, examination methods]

Extensive clinical data (595 patients) were made use of to work out a clinical classification and to isolate 2 groups of patients, i.e. one with primary retinoschisis and the other with secondary retinoschisis. According to etiopathogenesis, primary retinoschisis is subdivided into the inherited (congenital) variation and the acquired one. Congenital retinoschisis comprises, in its turn, juvenile and linked with X-chromosome variants as well as retinoschisis observed in Goldman-Favre and Wagner syndromes. The group of acquired retinoschisis is made up of degenerative (senile) and myopic variants, which are triggered by the typical or cystic peripheral retinal degeneration. Secondary retinoschisis is observed in different eye diseases like trauma, diabetes, uveitis, angiomatosis etc. The central, peripheral and combined retinoschisis variations are distinguished according to localization; two variations are distinguished according to the disease clinical course, i.e. stationary with demarcation and complicated progressing without demarcation and with uneven borders. The study results show that retinoschisis of any variation begins at the extreme periphery; lamination of the flat type develops primarily in the lower-external quadrant and the one of the bullous type--in the upper-external quadrant.