Dissociation of the vitreo-retinal junction following experimental embolization of retinal circulation.

Spheric plastic beads (7-25 mu in diameter) were injected into the central retinal artery of the owl monkey (Aotus trivirgatus) using a micro-surgical technique. The occlusion of retinal arteriolar branches resulted in posterior vitreous detachment and microcystoid degeneration in inner retinal layers. The dissociation of the vitreoretinal junction showed three different entities: detachment of the vitreous from the basal lamina (inner limiting lamina of the retina), separation of the basal lamina from the retina, and detachment of shreds of glial cells and other degenerated retinal tissue (intraretinal schisis).