ULTRASTRUCTURAL FEATURES OF A SOLITARY VITREOUS CYST

Background: Vitreous cysts are rare, and their origin and morphologic features unclear. The authors present ultrastructural observations mad e in a case of a 47-year-old woman who, after undergoing retinal detac hment surgery on several occasions, developed disturbing vitreous opac ities and a solitary cystic structure in the anterior vitreous cavity. Methods: Clinical and intraoperative biomicroscopy and histologic exa mination by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were performed. Results: The cystic structure was attached at its posterio r aspect to a vitreous membrane and enclosed within a vitreous body la cuna. It had an oval form with a smooth surface and was translucent. H istology showed the cyst wall to consist of retinal tissue with glioti c changes that had placed itself within the vitreous. Conclusion: The morphologic studies do not rule out the possibility of a congenital cy st. However, the authors presume that in association with the retinal detachment or the operations, a displacement of retinal tissue into th e vitreous body occurred from which the cyst developed.