Fig. 9. Vitreomacular traction. Vitreous can remain attached to the macula even in the presence of posterior vitreous detachment. In such cases, vitreous can extrude through the premacular vitreous cortex and fibers can insert into the macula. B, C, and D are an artist's rendition of this phenomenon. A demonstrates vitreous extrusion into the retrohyaloid space in a specimen from a middle-aged human. (Adapted from Jaffe NS: The Vitreous in Clinical Ophthalmology. St. Louis, CV Mosby, 1969; and Jaffe NS: Vitreous traction at the posterior pole of the fundus due to alterations in the posterior vitreous. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolarynogol 71:642, 1967.) |