Congenital anomalies of the retina

Review of 50 histopathologic cases and a number of clinical cases of congenital retinal anomalies has permitted classification under the following headings: 1) Coloboma-orbital cyst--"anophthalmos" group due to aberrant closure of the embryonic fissure; 2) Retinal fold-central stalk-detachment group comprising a series that varies from simple retinal folds to total retinal detachment and anomalous stalk formation. Cases of the 13-15 trisomy syndrome constitute a special subgroup in this rubric; 3) Retrolental fibroplasia, due to hyperoxia of premature infants, is manifest by "dragged" disks and gliovascular proliferation with occasional detachment; 4) Persistent hyaloid system is occasionally associated with mild anomalies of the retina; 5) Massive gliosis of the retina is usually a hamartomatous manifestation; 6) Congenital absence of ganglion cells occurs with cerebral maldevelopment and 7) Congenital absence of the photoreceptors is the congenital form of retinitis pigmentosa.