[Primary epiretinal gliosis (author's transl)]

Analyzing the findings of 45 patients with primary epiretinal gliosis in 51 otherwise entirely healthy eyes, the clinical features of the disease are elaborated. The disorder is characterized by the occurance of a glial membrane covering the retina in the area of the posterior pole and leading to a distorsion of the posterior pole and leading to a distorsion of the subjacent and surrounding tissues. Most frequently, the foveal region is involved, but the foveola is often spared. With increasing distance from the center the frequency of involvement decreases. Only in very rare cases the membrane extends beyond a distance of 5,5 mm from the center of the retina. The density of the membrane varies from case to case. Average visual acuity of the eyes evaluated in this study was 0,45. In no case it was worse than 0,05. The incidence of the disease increased with both increasing myopia and hyperopia. The average age of the patients was 55 years. There was no predominance of either men or women. The glia cells which compose the membrane originate from the innermost layers of the retina, from where they extend on the retinal surface through a defect in the inner limiting membrane. The reason for the formation of the defects is not yet understood. It is also unknown if the presence of such defects is absolutely necessary for the development of this condition.