Lattice degeneration is a common eye condition characterized by specific changes in the peripheral retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye. While lattice degeneration itself often does not cause symptoms, it can increase the likelihood of developing more serious eye problems, such as retinal tears or detachment.
Understanding Lattice Degeneration
Lattice degeneration involves changes within the peripheral retina. These areas typically appear as oval or linear patches of thinned retinal tissue, sometimes accompanied by pigment clumping or a crosshatching pattern from sclerotic (hardened) blood vessels. The thinning of the retina in these specific regions makes it structurally weaker.
Changes in the vitreous humor, the gel-like substance that fills the center of the eye, are a significant aspect. Overlying these thinned areas, the vitreous gel often undergoes liquefaction. At the margins of these thinned lesions, there can be abnormally strong adhesions between the vitreous and the retina, called vitreoretinal adhesion.
These strong adhesions, coupled with vitreous liquefaction, allow the vitreous to exert traction on the weakened retina. As the vitreous naturally shrinks and separates from the retina with age, a process called posterior vitreous detachment, this pulling force can lead to retinal tears or holes at or near the lesions. This can lead to fluid passing under the retina, potentially causing a retinal detachment.
Genetic and Inherited Factors
Genetic predisposition plays a role in lattice degeneration. While the precise cause is not fully understood, and it is not always directly inherited, the condition frequently appears to run in families.
Individuals with a family history of lattice degeneration or related retinal issues are more likely to develop the condition. Although specific genes for isolated cases of lattice degeneration are not always identified, research indicates that genetic factors contribute to its development.
Associated Ocular and Systemic Conditions
Several other medical conditions, both within the eye and affecting the entire body, are linked to an increased likelihood of lattice degeneration. High myopia, or severe nearsightedness, is a common association. In highly myopic eyes, the eyeball is elongated, which causes the retina to be stretched and thinned, making it more prone to developing lattice degeneration. Studies show that lattice degeneration is significantly more prevalent in myopic individuals compared to the general population.
Systemic connective tissue disorders also show a strong association with lattice degeneration due to their impact on the body’s structural proteins. Marfan syndrome, for example, is a genetic condition affecting connective tissue throughout the body, including the eyes. Individuals with Marfan syndrome may have elongated eyeballs and weakened ocular tissues, leading to an increased risk of lattice degeneration, retinal tears, and detachment. This is related to abnormalities in fibrillin, a protein important for connective tissue structure.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, another group of genetic connective tissue disorders, similarly affects the production of collagen, a key protein in connective tissues. The compromise in collagen integrity can lead to a thinning and weakening of the retina. This structural vulnerability in the eye’s connective tissues can predispose individuals with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome to lattice degeneration and subsequent retinal detachments.