Ultrasound biomicroscopy of the peripheral retina and the ciliary body in degenerative retinoschisis associated with pars plana cysts

Aim - To evaluate the ciliary body and peripheral retina in degenerative re tinoschisis associated with pars plana cysts using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). Methods - 18 eyes of 12 patients with degenerative retinoschisis associated with pars plana cysts were selected through binocular indirect ophthalmosc opy and Goldmann three mirror lens examination, both with scleral depressio n. These patients were studied in detail with UBM. Results - Study of the ciliary body with UBM showed pars plana cysts of dif ferent size and uneven shape. In cross sections the morphology of pars plan a cysts in detail and the close relation of the cysts with the oral region and the peripheral retina, where areas of cystoid degeneration and retinosc hisis were present, were observed. In transverse sections three main morpho logical aspects of pars plana cysts could be differentiated ("isolated," "c onfluent," and "clustered" cysts). Furthermore, ultrabiomicroscopy allowed differential diagnosis between retinoschisis and associated retinal detachm ent in six eyes. Conclusions-The study of peripheral degenerative retinoschisis and pars pla na cysts is possible in vivo by means of UBM, showing the detailed morpholo gy of the lesions (not otherwise evident through ophthalmoscopic examinatio n) and the close relation between pars plana cysts, cystoid degeneration, a nd peripheral retinoschisis.