STUDIES ON PIGMENTED SURFACE WRINKLING RETINOPATHY BY SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY

The light- and scanning electron microscopic appearance of 3 areas of pigmented epiretinal fibroplasia (pucker) are described in an eye removed following detachment surgery. The centre of each area of pucker consists of a fibroglial sheet covered by retinal pigment epithelium. The surface morphology of these cells resembles typical or slightly degenerated epithelium. Extensive areas of these pigment epithelial sheets were pigmentfree. There was no evidence that the pigment epithelial sheets exerted either direct or indirect traction on the inner surface of the retina. The origin of these cells and their role in the formation of retinal wrinkling is discussed. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.