Table 1

Scanning electron microscopy of the vitreoretinal interface

Concentration and duration of exposure		No of eyes		Remnants of vitreous cortex
Concentration and duration of exposure		No of eyes		Posterior pole	Equator	Vitreous base
1 U plasmin, 30 minutes	5	++	++	+++
		++	++	+++
		++	+++	+++
		++	++	+++
		++	++	+++
1 U plasmin, 60 minutes	5	+	+	+++
		+	++	+++
		+	+	+++
		+	+	+++
		++	++	+++
2 U plasmin, 30 minutes	5	+	+	+++
		+	+	+++
		+	+	+++
		–	+	+++
		+	+	+++
2 U plasmin, 60 minutes	5	–	+	+++
		–	+	+++
		–	+	+++
		–	+	+++
		–	+	+++
Plasmin treated eyes without incubation	4	+++	+++	+++
Control fellow eyes	24	+++	+++	+++

+++ = No vitreoretinal separation, vitreous cortex attached to the inner limiting membrane (ILM); ++ = vitreoretinal separation but continuous network of collagen fibrils covering the ILM; + = sparse collagen fibrils covering the ILM;—= bare ILM.