The pathogenesis of retinal dysplasia

Retinal dysplasia may be found in association with a variety of congenital abnormalities of the eye, some genetically transmitted and others due to exogenous influences. The dysplasias due to retinal hyperplasia, to retinal detachment or failure of coaptation, or to congenital absence of pigment epithelium suggest that orderly retinal morphogenesis may depend upon the organizing influence of an adjacent pigment epithelium. Dysplasia may also result from a necrotizing inflammatory response of the retina to infection, resulting in disorganization and abortive repair rather than true dysgenesis.