Retinal detachment with breaks in the pars plicata of the ciliary body.

We studied four eyes with retinal detachment accompanied by a break in the nonpigmented epithelium in the pars plicata of the ciliary body in three patients with atopic dermatitis. Each eye had either ectopia lentis or coloboma of the lens. In the region of the lens malformation, ciliary processes were hypoplastic. These rudimentary ciliary processes were observed only in the anterior half of the pars plicata. At their posterior end, the ciliary nonpigmented epithelium had been ruptured and a break by zonular traction was apparent. In the other region of the pars plicata, ciliary processes were normal and no break was detected. The break in the pars plicata was treated by diathermy application and segmental scleral buckling, without subretinal fluid drainage, and with the resulting reattachment of the retina. Hypoplasia of ciliary processes is basically responsible for the development of a break in the pars plicata.