Morphological effects of gas compression on the cortical vitreous

We used scanning electron microscopy to study vitreous in normal and perfluorocarbon gas-treated eyes of cynomolgus monkeys. The cortical vitreous of the normal (control) eye appeared to be a lamellar structure composed of sheets of collagen mesh. In the gas-treated eye there was shrinking and tearing of the lamellae. At six and 12 weeks after gas injection there was membrane formation at the edges of the torn lamellae.