Variations of Weiss's ring

Abstract

Background: Weiss's ring is an important index for diagnosing a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). The authors studied the configurations of Weiss's ring because the ring has several variations.

Methods: Weiss's ring was examined biomicroscopically in 223 eyes with PVD and documented videographically using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope. The configurations of Weiss's ring were classified into four groups: a complete ring, a partial ring, a ball-like opacity, and a hole without a ring.

Results: In the 223 eyes with PVD, Weiss's ring was categorized as a complete ring in 63 eyes (28.3%), a partial ring in 128 eyes (57.4%), a ball-like opacity in 17 eyes (7.6%), and a hole without a ring in 15 eyes (6.7%). A complete ring was observed in 8 (57.1%) of 14 eyes with hyperopia (+3 diopters or more), in 25 (28.7%) of 87 eyes with emmetropia (between -1 and +1 diopter), and in 10 (16.1%) of 62 eyes with myopia (-3 diopters or more). Six months after the initial examinations, the contour of Weiss's ring remained unchanged in 86 (96.6%) of 89 eyes with fresh PVD.

Conclusions: Scanning laser ophthalmoscope is a useful tool for observing Weiss's ring. A "classic" annular opacity around a hole in the prepapillary posterior vitreous cortex represents less than one third of the configurations of Weiss's ring, indicating that the term "ring" is erroneous.