There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.
Abstract
In order to define the pathology of cystoid macular edema (CME), 35 human cases with
histopathologic features of CME were reviewed. The macular cysts appeared in different
layers of the retina in eyes after cataract extraction, retinal vein occlusion, trauma,
diabetes mellitus, and accelerated hypertension. The pathologic process varied from
transudation, exudation to liquefaction necrosis. The experimental models of lens
extraction and talc retinopathy in rhesus monkeys were examined. Disruption of the
blood-retinal barrier at the retinal vasculature and retinal pigment epithelium were
noted after lens extraction. Cystoid degeneration of the macula was seen in monkeys
with talc retinopathy. The possibility that disruption of the blood-retinal barrier
and microinfarction play important roles in the formation of the macular cysts is
proposed.