Retinal Traction in Vivo and Postmortem

Abstract

Retinal traction exerted in vivo on a localized area of the posterior pole in rabbit fundi showed that the separation between retina and pigment epithelium occurred over a much smaller area than immediately after death, indicating a stronger adhesion in vivo. This characteristic was not influenced by the presence of retinal breaks in the vicinity of the retina submitted to traction. The striking difference between the detachment of the retina in vivo and postmortem is discussed in light of the mechanisms which may affect the maintenance of normal retinal adhesion.