Retinal Peripheral Degeneration

Synonyms

Some types of degenerations may have several names:

Microcystoid degeneration – Cystic retinal tuft; Paving stone degeneration – Cobblestone degeneration

Definition

A large family of pathologies, in which there is a degenerative process in one of the retinal layers of the anterior neuroretina or ora serrata. These pathologic processes may be grossly divided to three subfamilies:

• 1. Intraretinal degenerations which include the microcystoid degenerations, senile retinoschisis, and pars plana cysts

• 2. Retinovitreal degenerations which include the snail track degeneration, the lattice degeneration, and the white degeneration

• 3. Chorioretinal degeneration which include the paving stone degeneration

Etiology

The exact etiology of most of the peripheral retinal degenerations is not known. Most of the degenerations are due to aging, others are familial disorders, and some are associated with high myopia as lattice degeneration and snail track degeneration. Pars plana cysts may by...