FIGURE 4.

Age-related changes in human vitreous structure. Top panel: Dark-field slit microscopy of the posterior and central vitreous in a 33-week-old human embryo shows considerable light scattering arising from the peripheral vitreous cortex, due to densely packed collagen fibrils. In the central vitreous is the remnant of the hyaloid artery oriented toward the prepapillary posterior vitreous cortex. This structure is destined to become Cloquet’s canal. Middle panel: Vitreous structure in adults is characterized by macroscopic fibers with an anteroposterior orientation, inserting into the vitreous base. Bottom panel: In old age there is aggregation of the fibers into tortuous structures with adjacent pockets of liquid vitreous that form lacunae (asterisk).