Vascularized vitreous membranes in congenital retinoschisis.

Abstract Congenital retinoschisis is a bilateral x-linked disease characterized by a stellate maculopathy and retinoschisis. The pathogenesis is unknown. This article describes a patient with congenital retinoschisis and documents the unique development of vascularized vitreous membranes. A posterior vitreous separation with subsequent vascularization of the posterior hyaloid face occurs early in the course of the disease process and is coincident with the development of maculopathy and schisis cavities. This process may represent an important element in the pathogenesis of the maculopathy and schisis cavities in congenital retinoschisis. With atrophy of the neovascular tissue, a membrane remains and consists of a thickened area of the posterior hyaloid face.