BASAL LAMINAR DEPOSIT IN THE AGING PERIPHERAL HUMAN RETINA

A basal laminar deposit (BLD) in the human macula has been described a s an early sign of age-related macular degeneration. In some eyes with a BLD in the macula, light microscopic sections of the peripheral ret ina revealed almost similar deposits between the retinal pigment epith elium and Bruch's membrane. Because the exact pathogenesis of age-rela ted macular degeneration and the origin of the BLD are unknown, we stu died the ultrastructure of these peripheral sub-RPE deposits. Parts of the equatorial and peripheral regions of the retina of ten human eyes , with BLD-like deposits between the retinal pigment epithelium and Br uch's membrane, were examined by electron microscopy. In eight of thes e ten eyes the ultrastructure of these deposits was amorphous and fine ly granular. Five of the eight deposits also contained small amounts o f long-spacing collagen. Ultrastructurally, the deposits were similar to an early type BLD in the macula. In the remaining two eyes, the dep osits appeared to consist of flat, elongated drusen. Our findings indi cate that a BLD can develop not only in the macula but also in the per ipheral region of the retina.