The Vitreous and Vitreoretinal Interface

The importance of the vitreous for clinical eye problems has been recognized since the following description of muscae volitantes was offered in 1474 by Benevenutus Grassus of Jerusalem 1 : "When an excessive amount of black bile is carried to the brain, the latter is thereby disordered, the optic nerve is obstructed, the spirit of vision is unable to find its way to the eye, and this obstruction shows itself as flies flying through the air" and by the recognition of vitreous loss during cataract surgery "in consistence like the white of an egg," or when the "vitreous humor... is... in a state of fluidity." "... updates our understanding of the role of the vitreous..." More recently, especially since 1950, the vitreous has been subjected to extensive study of its structure, embryology, biochemistry, and aging patterns and in hereditary conditions and eye disease. These studies have been summarized in previous surveys, especially