Fundus — Full-Thickness Macular Hole Stage 3-4

A 68-year-old woman presents with sudden onset metamorphopsia and central scotoma. On fundoscopy, a round reddish defect is seen at the fovea with a surrounding gray halo of subretinal fluid and an overlying operculum. OCT confirms a full-thickness defect of the neurosensory retina. The structure marked **A** in the diagram represents the full-thickness round foveal defect. Which of the following best describes the PRIMARY PATHOGENIC MECHANISM that leads to formation of this lesion?