Snail track degeneration of the retina.

In 1904 and again in 1934, Gonin· de­ scribed the clinical characteristics of snail track degeneration of the retina. Sharply de­ marcated bands of white, crinkled, or frost­ like change of the inner retinal surface (Figs. 1 and 2) create a picture that is remi­ niscent of the tracks made by a snail; this appearance led to the descriptive naming of this entity. Several authors have commented on the rhegmatogenous characteristics of this de­ generation. In addition, Cibis has described vitreoretinal adhesions over the lesions and particularly at their margins. The rhegmatogenic potential of this degeneration is, never­ theless, not clear and for this reason we have analyzed a group of 11 patients with this de­ generation and we examined members of their families when this was possible.