II.E. Vitreoretinal Interface and Inner Limiting Membrane

The vitreoretinal interface is the site of many pathogenic events associated with sequences that lead to vision loss. The interface consists of a complex formed by the internal limiting lamina of the retina, commonly called the internal limiting membrane (ILM), the posterior vitreous cortex, and an intervening extracellular matrix that is thought to be responsible for vitreoretinal adhesion (Figure II.E-1). Changes in each of these three components occur with aging and in certain diseases, such as myopia and diabetes. These aging and disease-related changes contribute a variety of vitreoretinal disorders. There are special interfaces between vitreous and the optic disc (see chapter III.E. Vitreo-papillary adhesion/traction) and retinal blood vessels, with the latter contributing to various retinovascular disorders (see chapters III.A. Congenital vascular vitreo-retinopathies; III.K. Vitreous in retino-vascular diseases and diabetic macular edema; V.A.6. Surgery of arterial and venous retino-vascular diseases)