Aging Changes of Vitreomacular Interface

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

In Brief Purpose: The posterior precortical vitreous pocket (the pocket) is a premacular liquefied lacuna, the physiologic presence of which was reported in autopsy eyes. We describe the morphologic features of the pocket in normal individuals. Methods: We performed spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in 102 eyes of 51 normal subjects of various ages in a sitting position. Results: The pocket was identified as an optically lucent space anterior to the posterior fundus in 85 of 102 eyes (83.3%) in the age-group. The vitreous cortex was extremely thin at the central fovea, and it gradually thickened along with age in the perifoveal area. A shallow perifoveal posterior vitreous detachment developed in 16 of 32 eyes (50%) of subjects aged >51 years. The lamellar structure of the vitreous cortex was seen in 7 of the 32 eyes (22%) of subjects aged >51 years. Conclusion: Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography confirmed the presence of the pocket in all ages. Thickened vitreous cortex and perifoveal posterior vitreous detachment were physiologic findings in older individuals. The lamellar structure of the vitreous cortex may be related to the vitreoschisis. All age-groups have a precortical pocket anterior to the macula. With aging, the incidence of posterior vitreous detachment increases, and a lamellar structure is common. Both may cause vitreoretinal interface diseases in older individuals.