Skip to main content
Log in

Age-related changes in human vitreous structure

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Changes in vitreous structure that occur with aging are important in the pathogenesis of vitreous liquefaction (synchisis senilis), vitreous detachment, and retinal disease. Vitreous morphology was studied in 59 human eyes post-mortem using dark-field horizontal slit illumination of the entire dissected vitreous. In many individuals younger than 30 years, the vitreous was homogeneous in structure. Middle-aged individuals had macroscopic fibers in the central vitreous, which coursed anteroposteriorly and inserted into the vitreous base and the vitreous cortex, posteriorly. During senescence, the vitreous volume was reduced, the vitreous body was collapsed (syneresis), and the fibers were thickened, tortuous, and surrounded by liquid vitreous. This sequence of age-related changes probably results from a progressive reorganization of the hyaluronic acid and collagen molecular networks. Characterization of the molecular events underlying these changes will elucidate the mechanisms of the phenomena of synchisis, syneresis, and detachment, and may provide methods with which to prevent or induce vitreous detachment prophylactically.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Armand G, Chakrabarti B (1987) Conformational differences between hyaluronates of gel and liquid human vitreous: fractionation and circular dichroism studies. Curr Eye Res (in press)

  • Asakura A (1985) Histochemistry of hyaluronic acid of the bovine vitreous body as studied by electron microscopy. Acta Jpn Ophthalmol 89:179–191

    Google Scholar 

  • Avila MP, Jalkh AE, Murakami K, Trempe CL, Schepens CL (1983) Biomicroscopic study of the vitreous in macular breaks. Ophthalmology 90:1277–1283

    Google Scholar 

  • Balazs EA (1961) Molecular morphology of the vitreous body. In: Smelser GK (ed) The structure of the eye. Academic Press, New York, pp 293–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Balazs EA (1984) Functional anatomy of the vitreous. In: Duane TD, Jaeger EA (eds) Biomedical foundations of ophthalmology, vol 1. Lippincott, Philadelphia, pp 1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Balazs EA, Flood MT (1978) Age-related changes in the physical and chemical structure of human vitreous. Third International Congress of Eye Research. Osaka

  • Chaine G, Sebag J, Coscas G (1983) The induction of retinal detachment. Trans Ophthalmol Soc UK 103:480–485

    Google Scholar 

  • Comper WD, Laurent TC (1978) Physiological function of connective tissue polysaccharides. Physiol Rev 58:255–315

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisner G (1973a) Biomicroscopy of the peripheral fundus. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisner G (1973b) Autoptische Spaltlampenuntersuchung des Glaskörpers IV–V. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 187:1–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisner G (1984) Clinical anatomy of the vitreous. In: Duane TD, Jaeger EA (eds) Biomedical foundations of ophthalmology, vol 1. Lippincott, Philadelphia, pp 1–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Faulborn J, Bowald S (1985) Microproliferations in proliferative diabetic retinopathy and their relationship to vitreous: corresponding light and electron microscopic studies. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 223:130–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Fessler JH (1960) A structural function of mucopolysaccharides in connective tissue. Biochem J 76:124–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Foos RY, Wheeler NC (1982) Vitreoretinal juncture: synchysis senilis and posterior vitreous detachment. Ophthalmology 89:1502–1512

    Google Scholar 

  • Gelman RA, Blackwell J (1974) Interactions between mucopolysaccharides and cationic polypeptides in aqueous solutions: hyaluronic acid, heparitin sulphate and keratan sulphate. Biopolymers 13: 139–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirokawa H, Takahashi M, Trempe CL (1985) Vitreous changes in peripheral uveitis. Arch Ophthalmol 103:1704–1707

    Google Scholar 

  • Jalkh A, Takahashi M, Topilow HW, Trempe CL, McMeel JW (1982) Prognostic value of vitreous findings in diabetic retinopathy. Arch Ophthalmol 100:432–434

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsson L, Osterlin S (1985) Posterior vitreous detachment. A combined clinical and physiochemical study. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 233:92–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogston AG, Phelps CF (1961) The partition of solutes between buffer solutions containing hyaluronic acid. Biochem J 78:827–833

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Malley P (1976) The pattern of vitreous syneresis — a study of 800 autopsy eyes. In: Irvine AR, O'Malley C (eds) Advances in vitreous surgery. Thomas, Springfield, pp 17–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Schepens CL (1983) Retinal detachment and allied diseases, vol 1. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 37–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Schepens CL, Avila MP, Jalkh AE, Trempe CL (1984) Role of vitreous in cystoid macular edema. Surv Ophthalmol 28 (suppl):499–504

    Google Scholar 

  • Sebag J, Balazs EA (1984) Pathogenesis of cystoid macular edema: an anatomic consideration of vitreoretinal adhesions. Surv Ophthalmol 28 [Suppl]:493–498

    Google Scholar 

  • Sebag J, Balazs EA (1985) Human vitreous fibres and vitreoretinal disease. Trans Ophthalmol Soc UK 104:123–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Sebag J, Balazs EA, Flood MT (1987) The fibrous structure of human vitreous. Exp Eye Res (in press)

  • Snowden JM (1982) The stabilization of in vivo assembled collagen fibrils by proteoglycans/glycosaminoglycans. Biochim Biophys Acta 706:153–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Snowden JM, Swann DA (1980) Vitreous structure. V. The morphology and thermal stability of vitreous collagen fibers and comparison to the articular cartilage. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 19:610–618

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Knapp Fellow of the Heed Ophthalmic Foundation, 1985–1986

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sebag, J. Age-related changes in human vitreous structure. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 225, 89–93 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02160337

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02160337

Keywords

Navigation