The Vitreous, Its Structure, and Relation to the Ciliary Body and Retina. Proctor Award Lecture.

M. -any communications have described the structure and relation of the vitreous to the ciliary body and retina."'-~>~ •''• Yet our knowledge of this region of the eye remains incomplete. For example, the intimate relation of these tissues in infancy and childhood and the changes which occur with increasing age are poorly understood. The gross effects of some diseases on these tissues are known, but their genesis and the early tissue changes are unknown. Knowledge is meager as to the origin of the adhesions which are found at the sites of vitreoretinal degenerations, especially those with hole formation. It is the purpose of this study to present some aspects of the structure of the vitreous in the region of its base, and of its relation to the adjacent ciliary body and retina. Some vitreoretinal changes produced by disease will be discussed, and comparative studies of vitreoretinal relations, will be described in normal, fetal, infant, child, and adult autopsy eyes.