Posterior scleritis must be one of the most underdiagnosed treatable conditions in ophthalmology, partly because its manifestations are so protean and partly because the diagnosis is rarely considered. Although ultrasonography and computer tomogram are ancilliary tests, a careful examination of the posterior segment of the eye including the area of the ora serrata, macula and disc is essential to discover the presence of a posterior scleritis. We experienced prolonged retinal pigment epithelial detachments which had appered at early phase of posterior scleritis.
Bruch Membrane ; Diagnosis ; Ophthalmology ; Retinal Detachment* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Scleritis* ; Ultrasonography

Lacquer cracks represent the healed mechanical breaks of retinal pigment epithelium, Bruch's membrane, and choriocapillaris complex.The etiologic mechanism of new lacquer cracks in high myopia has not yet been elucidated. Recently, cases in which new lacquer cracks formed at the site of the previous subretinal bleeding have been reported and it has been postulated that the subretinal bleeding may be the precursor of lacquer cracks formation in high myopia.Herein, we present our patient who developed a new lacquer crack at the site of previous subretinal bleeding with a brief literatures review.
Bruch Membrane ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Lacquer* ; Myopia ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium

Electron microscopic observation was carried out on the alterations of finer structures of retina following the daily intraperitoneal injections of BRC (benzenhexachloride) and combination of BRC with copper for 4 weeks and 6 weeks to the rabbit respectively. 1. In both groups, vesicle formation due to sporadic disintegration and elimination of axons in the nerve fiber layer appeared. 2. Formation of large vesicles was noticeable in the cytoplasm of retinal pigment epithelial cells in both 4 weeks and 6 weeks groups which was considered to be a relative enlargement of smooth surfaced endoplasmic reticulum (SER) by the increased enzymatic activities in response to the toxins. Focal thickening of Bruch's membrane in the group of 4 weeks and focal destruction of the Bruch's membrane in the group of 6 Weeks were observed. 3. Between the BRC inoculated group and ERC combined with copper inoculated group, no conspicuous difference in findings was recognized. More severe alterations of finer retinal structures in the 6 weeks group than in the 4 weeks group were demonstrated.
Axons ; Bruch Membrane ; Copper ; Cytoplasm ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Epithelial Cells ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Nerve Fibers ; Retina* ; Retinaldehyde

Changes in the thickness and composition of Bruch's membrane with aging have been described by several observers and related to the development of macular with advancing ageby region, comparing the macular area with more peripheral areas. In the younger (less than. 50 years) eyes we studied, the thickness of macular Bruch's membrane was about equal to that of peripheral Bruch's membrane. With aging, however, the thickness of Bruch's membrane was greater in the periphery than the macula. With increasing age, Bruch's membrane increased in basophilic reaction, PAS positivity and the detectable sialomucin fraction. In the macular region, but not in more peripheral regions, there is a preferential thickening of the interchoriocapillaris "teeth" of Bruch's degeneration by some. Using a combination of histochemical and electronmicroscopic techniques, we have examined the state of Bruch's membrane membrane material. By electronmicroscopy, in older eyes, the elastin layer of Bruch's membrane appears fragmented, while, in the periphery, it is continuous and resembles that of younger eyes. In summary, Bruch's membrane exhibits little regional difference in thickness in younger eyes, but the macular region becomes relatively thinner than more peripheral regions in older eyes. With advancing age, the deposition of extracellular matrix materials in appatite and fragmentation of the elastin layer is dramatically more prominent in the macular region than in the periphery. This regional variation may be related, at least in part, to some aspects of macular degeneration.
Aging ; Basophils ; Bruch Membrane* ; Elastin ; Extracellular Matrix ; Humans* ; Macular Degeneration ; Membranes ; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction ; Sialomucins

Laser photocoagulation was applied in vitro to organ culture exoplants of porcine retinal pigment epithelium(RPE) attached to Bruch's membrane, choroid, and sclera using the Del Priore method for de-monstrating the proliferation of RPE cells and characterizing the response with respect to power level of treatment. Six-millimetor-round buttons of eyewall were treated with 20-30 spots from the argon bluegreen laser using a 500 micrometer spot size, 0.1s duration, and variable powers(100mW, 300mW, and 500mW). Group 1 is untreated control group and group 2(100mW) and group 4(500mW) showed less active proliferation of RPE than group 3(300mW). In group 3, all RPE cells, Bruch's membrane, and a part of choroid were disrupted and lifted off three hours after laser photocoagulation and then RPE cells began to proliferate actively at third day. The treated area became completely covered with several layers of RPE cells. The proliferation of RPE cells turned out to be larger when the power was moderate(300mW) as compared to the case when the power was too high(500mW) or too low(100mW).
Argon ; Bruch Membrane ; Choroid ; Light Coagulation* ; Organ Culture Techniques* ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Sclera

We studied clinical applicability of the contact transscleral retinopexy using the continuous-wave Nd:YAG (CW-YAG) laser. CW-YAG laser photocoagulation was done over sclera through contact probe in the pigmented rabbit eyes. Cryoretinopexy was also done and their morphologic findings were compared. Acute lesions produced with the laser photocoagulation were noted to have the characteristic white-colored distinct depigmentation. Its microscopic findings were oharacterized by choroidal necrosis, disruption of Bruch's membrane, dispersion of retinal pigment epithelial cells, and disorganization of sensory retina. Acute lesions after the cryoretinopexy were much more broader in its area and showed slight tanslucent retinal edema. Its microscopic findings showed relatively well-preserved choroid including Bruch's membrane. These data demonstrated that the contact transscleral CW-YAG laser retinopexy is capable of inducing more localized, stronger chorioretinal adhesion than the cryoretinopexy.
Bruch Membrane ; Choroid ; Diathermy ; Epithelial Cells ; Light Coagulation ; Necrosis ; Papilledema ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde ; Sclera

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of intravitreal aflibercept according to subfoveal choroidal thickness in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 60 eyes from 60 patients with PCV treated with intravitreal aflibercept. The patients were followed for at least 6 months after the first injection. Using software, subfoveal choroidal thickness was manually measured as the distance from the hyper-reflective line of Bruch's membrane to the chorioscleral interface on optical coherence tomography. The patients were divided into three groups based on subfoveal choroidal thickness. Visual acuity, subfoveal choroidal thickness, central macular thickness and largest pigment epithelial detachment (PED) height, polyp regression rate, and dry macula rate were evaluated to analyze the anatomical and functional outcomes. RESULTS: Baseline mean subfoveal choroidal thickness were 178.50 ± 28.42 µm in the thin group (14 eyes, 23.3%), 287.03 ± 43.58 µm in the medium group (33 eyes, 55.0%), and 379.77 ± 17.09 µm in the thick group (13 eyes, 21.7%). Baseline age, sex, visual acuity, central macular thickness, and the largest PED height did not differ significantly among the three subgroups. Only the thin group showed significant improvement of visual acuity at 6 months (p = 0.005). Subfoveal choroidal thickness, central macular thickness, and largest PED height were significantly decreased after treatment in all subgroups and did not differ among the subgroups. Compared with the other groups, the thin subfoveal choroidal thickness group showed higher polyp regression rate at 3 months and higher dry macula rate at 6 months (p = 0.013 and p = 0.004, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal aflibercept injection was effective for the treatment of PCV, and thin subfoveal choroidal thickness was associated with better anatomical and functional outcomes.
Bruch Membrane ; Choroid* ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Polyps ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To compare the cultured morphology of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells which were transplanted onto the Bruch's membrane (BM) in different tissue types. METHODS: Cultured porcine RPE cells were harvested in three types of transplants: single cell (SC) suspension, cell cluster (CC) suspension and cell sheet (CS). After RPE cell transplants were plated onto the porcine BM explants at three different cell concentrations, they were dissected and examined with a transmission electron microscope and a scanning electron microscope at 1 day, 3 days, and 1, 2 and 4 weeks for morphological study. RESULTS: All types of RPE transplants were grown and proliferated well on BM and required a shorter time to reach confluence with higher cell concentration. Although CC transplants took a little longer to reach confluence on BM than SC transplants, they were nevertheless well grown on BM and showed good cellular morphology in monolayer. The time to confluence was much longer for the CS transplants than for the SC and CC transplants and the proliferated cells tended to be large, flat and to have scanty microvilli on the cell surface with reaching peripheral portion of confluent cell layers. CONCLUSIONS: CC suspension may be a better candidate for RPE transplantation in the case of using cultured RPE cells as transplant.
Bruch Membrane* ; Epithelial Cells* ; Microvilli ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium ; Retinaldehyde* ; Transplantation ; Transplants

Folding of the choroid, Bruchs membrane, and the overlying retina may occur in a variety of ocular and orbital diseases and after certain surgical procedures. A 34-year-old man experienced the decreased visual acuity and the protrusion and displacement in the right eye for at least 4 years. The protrusion of the patient was 13mm in the right eye and 6mm in the left eye with the aid of Hertels exophthalmometer. The right eye appeared downward deviation about 15 prism. The tumor located outside the muscle cone in the computed tomography and ultrasonography seemed to make the large choroidal folds involving the macula region. The retinal pigment epithelial atrophy was noted along long-standing choroidal folds. The tumor was removed by the lateral orbitotomy. The size of tumor was 20 x 15x 10mm. The postoperative protrusion was 6mm in the both eye. After removal of tumor, changes in the corneal refraction, visual acuity, and choroidal folds with the retinal pigment epithelial atrophy did not occur in comparison with the preoperative state.
Adult ; Atrophy ; Bruch Membrane ; Choroid* ; Humans ; Orbit* ; Orbital Diseases ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde ; Ultrasonography ; Visual Acuity

The use of photocoagulation to treat proliferative diabetic retinopathy has gained widespread acceptance in ophthalmic practice since its introduction in 1959 by Meyer-Schwickerath. The purpose of photocoagulation is thought to reduce the stimulus for the vessel formation so characteristic of proliferative retinopathy. Photocoagulation may cause damage to Bruch's membrane, retinal pigment epithelium, and neurosensory retina and may result in either subretinal neovascularization or choroidal neovascularization. We found choroidal neovasaularization after performing photocogulation(one case is Argon laser the other Xenon-arch) in two diabetic retinopathy patients.
Argon ; Bruch Membrane ; Choroid* ; Choroidal Neovascularization ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Humans ; Light Coagulation* ; Retina ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium