Structure of the Human Vitreoretinal Border Region

Abstract

The morphology of the vitreoretinal border region and possible age-related changes in its thickness and its structural elements have been investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The material comprised both eyes from one human fetus and 15 adults. The age distribution of the adults was two persons in each decade from the third to the tenth decade. Four regions in each eye were studied. The inner limiting membrane (MLI) of the fetal eyes was very thin, of almost equal thickness in the four regions, being thickest in the macular region. The MLI followed the contour of the MÜller cells. A regional difference in thickness of the MLI was found in all adult eyes; it was thickest in the macular region. The outer cellular surface of the MLI was undulating, whereas the inner vitreous surface was smooth. No significant correlation between age and thickness of the membrane could be demonstrated in adult eyes. The diameter of the previously described fibrils close to the MLI varied slightly from approximately 15 to 30 nm. No correlation between age and fibril diameter or fibril diameter and region was found. Fibril length varied significantly between the four regions, the longest being in the ora serrata region, the second longest in the equatorial region, the next in the optic disc region and the shortest in the macular region.

Clinical, histological and ultrastructural studies of the posterior hyaloid membrane

“…Much of the initial pathological research on PVD and the vitreoretinal interface was carried out on postmortem eyes and the contributions of Zimmerman and Straatsma, Gärtner, Foos, Heegaard and Seebag [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] introduced new avenues for research on the vitreoretinal interface. Substantial variations individually and geographically in the structure known as the Inner Limiting Membrane of the retina were found 4,6 and that although the inner limiting membrane (ILM) increases in thickness throughout life, 4,6 substantial variations in ILM thickness exist even between eyes of the same patient.…”

“…Substantial variations individually and geographically in the structure known as the Inner Limiting Membrane of the retina were found 4,6 and that although the inner limiting membrane (ILM) increases in thickness throughout life, 4,6 substantial variations in ILM thickness exist even between eyes of the same patient. 6 Research to date has been limited by the paucity of antemortem clinical correlation so that exclusion of postmortem artefactual gel separation has been difficult. Alternatively, some studies have attempted to simulate postmortem gel separation by sequential removal of the ocular coats to reveal the main mass of the vitreous body.…”

Clinicopathological changes at the vitreoretinal junction: posterior vitreous detachment

“…This concept was later clarified by Wolff and Pedler,2,3 who observed that although the Mü ller cells inserted into the inner limiting membrane (ILM) of the retina, it was in itself a separate and distinct extracellular structure. This latter notion was confirmed by Heergard and Matsumoto et al, [4][5][6] who demonstrated that the ILM was separate from the plasma membrane of the Mü ller cells.…”

Photoablation of inner limiting membrane and inner retinal layers using the Erbium:YAG‐laser: An in vitro study

“…Additional difficulties during the selective ablation of the ILM may arise due to the individually varying thickness of the ILM, which depends on age, underlying disease and location [49], together with a varying thickness of aqueous irrigation solution that sometimes remains on the retina despite the use of perfluorocarbon liquids. Both factors together require a real-time ablation control to detremine the ablation endpoint.…”