Pathology of vitreoretinal junction biopsies

Advances in ophthalmic microsurgical techniques have provided surgical options in a variety of disorders that involve the interface between the retina and the vitreous. These conditions include epiretinal membrane, macular hole, macular oedema, vitreomacular traction syndrome and haemorrhage beneath the vitreous surface of the retina (as, for example, may be seen in Valsalva retinopathy and Terson’s syndrome). This review aims to examine some of the histological features of the specimens that may present to the pathologist from this region of the eye and explore how the surgical interventions themselves, or surgical adjuncts, may alter the pathology of the specimens.