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Diseases of the Vitreo-Macular Interface pp 21–27Cite as

Anatomy and Physiology of the Vitreo-macular Interface

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Part of the book series: Essentials in Ophthalmology ((ESSENTIALS))

Abstract

The vitreous occupies four fifths of the volume of the eyeball and consists of collagen fibers and hyaluronic acid. These components maintain a clear matrix with viscoelastic properties resulting in outward mechanical forces responsible for retinal attachment. Anatomically, the vitreous can be divided into vitreous base, core, and cortex. The vitreous cortex envelopes the core, with attachments to all its contiguous structures, such as the vitreous base, the lens, parafovea, margin of optic nerve, and major retinal blood vessels. Anchoring fibrils grow from the inner layer of the vitreous cortex into the internal limiting membrane of the retina forming the vitreoretinal interface. Diffusion of molecules can occur through this interface in a unilateral direction providing a pathway for intravitreal drug delivery.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA

    Amitha Domalpally MD, Sapna Gangaputra MD, MPH & Ronald P. Danis MD

  2. University of Wisconsin Fundus Photograph Reading Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 8010 Excelsior Drive, Suite 100, Madison, WI, 53717, USA

    Ronald P. Danis MD

Authors
  1. Amitha Domalpally MD
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  2. Sapna Gangaputra MD, MPH
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  3. Ronald P. Danis MD
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Correspondence to Ronald P. Danis MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. ThromboGenics NV, Leuven, Belgium

    Aniz Girach

  2. Clinique de Montchoisi, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Marc D. de Smet

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Compliance with Ethical Requirements

Dr. Danis is a consultant to ThromboGenics for work on a Data Safety Monitoring Board and on a Scientific Advisory Board.

Dr. Amitha Domalpally and Dr. Sapna Gangaputra declare that they have no conflict of interest.

No animal or human studies were carried out by the authors for this chapter.

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Domalpally, A., Gangaputra, S., Danis, R.P. (2014). Anatomy and Physiology of the Vitreo-macular Interface. In: Girach, A., de Smet, M. (eds) Diseases of the Vitreo-Macular Interface. Essentials in Ophthalmology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40034-6_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40034-6_3

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