Histopathology of Goldmann-Favre syndrome obtained by full-thickness eye-wall biopsy.

The first histopathologic specimen form the eye of a patient with Goldmann-Favre syndrome was obtained by full-thickness eye-wall biopsy. Diagnosis was established by an early history of night blindness, characteristic clinical features including atypical pigmentary retinopathy, peripheral retinoschisis, opaque "sclerotic-appearing" peripheral retinal vessels, vitreous changes including liquefaction and condensed vitreous bands and a non-detectable electroretinogram (ERG). Histopathologic changes from a 4 mm peripheral area included diffuse degenerative changes involving predominantly the sensory retinal layers with a relatively normal pigment epithelium and choroid. Vascular changes included thickened retinal vessel basement membranes and areas of vascular occlusion. These findings are compatible with a primary photoreceptor involvement in addition to a vascular component. A thick preretinal membrane of glial tissue was an additional finding.