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Vitreoretinal juncture —Simple epiretinal membranes

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Summary

Simple epiretinal membranes are delicate cellular membranes occurring at the vitreoretinal juncture. They produce no symptoms or macroscopically detectable change, but are a common microscopic finding in enucleated eyes. The ultrastructural features of these membranes were studies in eight eyes surgically enucleated for unrelated ocular conditions or for orbital lesions. Simple epiretinal membranes are composed exclusively of glial cells. Evidence is presented that these cells derive from accessory glia of the superficial retina which react to a variety of stimuli and migrate through breaks in the retinal surface (which may later heal). This pathogenic sequence is discussed in light of present knowledge of retinal accessory glia and their role in retinal disease.

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Author notes

  1. Robert Y. Foos

    Present address: Inselspital, Universitäts-Augenklinik, CH-3008, Bern, Switzerland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California

    Robert Y. Foos

  2. Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA School of Medicine, 90024, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Robert Y. Foos

Authors
  1. Robert Y. Foos
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Additional information

This investigation was supported in part by Public Health Service research grants EY 00331 and EY 00725 from the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health.

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Foos, R.Y. Vitreoretinal juncture —Simple epiretinal membranes. Albrecht von Graefes Arch. Klin. Ophthalmol. 189, 231–250 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02384852

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02384852

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