Ultrastructural Features of Surgically Excised Idiopathic Subretinal Neovascular Membrane

ABSTRACT

Subretinal neovascular membrane is the direct cause of visual impairment in various macular lesions. The aim of this study is to understand the pathophysiology of subretinal neovascular membrane by ultrastructural study. Six cases of surgically excised idopathic subretinal neovascular membrane were examined ultrastructurally. The vascular channels, which were lined by endothelial cells and surrounded by pericyte or retinal pigment epithelium, were the main feature of subretinal neovascular membrane. Other cellular components were retinal pigment epithelium, myofibroblast containing melanosome, chronic inflammatory cells including macrophages, histiocytes, plasma cells and lymphocytes, fibrocytes and outer segments of photoreceptor cells. Considereing that the development of subretianl neovascular membrane is similar to the wound healing process, it is suggested that pathophysiology of subretinal neovascular membrane may be a process of abnormal wound healing.