Clinical Study

Eye (2006) 20, 150–153. doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6701824; published online 18 March 2005

Retinal pigment epithelial changes and choroidal neovascularisation at the edge of posterior staphylomas; a case series and review of the literature

The authors have no financial conflict of interest regarding the subject matter in the manuscript.

P Mehta1, S Dinakaran1, D Squirrell1 and J Talbot1

1Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, Sheffield, UK

Correspondence: P Mehta, Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2 JF, UK. Tel: +44 114 271 1900; Fax: +44 114 271 3682; E-mail: docpm99@hotmail.com

Received 28 July 2004; Accepted 1 December 2004; Published online 18 March 2005.

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Abstract

Purpose

 

To report five myopic patients who presented with a variety of changes at the edge of posterior staphyloma.

Methods

 

Retrospective, observational case series. The clinical and angiographic records of five patients who showed changes at the edge of posterior staphyloma were reviewed. One of these patients had been referred querying macular dystrophy.

Results

 

On fundus examination, three patients showed retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) changes at the edge of the staphyloma and two showed RPE atrophy with surrounding haemorrhages. Fluorescein angiography revealed areas of hyperfluorescence at the point of change of curvature of the staphyloma suggestive of RPE atrophy in all patients. In two patients, a choroidal neovascular membrane was seen. Indocyanine green angiogram carried out in one patient showed the presence of an occult choroidal neovascular membrane with preservation of the adjacent choriocapillaris.

Conclusion

 

This case series illustrates the variety of changes that can occur at the edge of posterior staphylomas, which ranged from RPE disturbance to choroidal neovascular membrane formation. In one of the patients, these changes were mistaken for macular dystrophy. Our observations also support the hypothesis that chorioretinal changes occur at the edge of staphylomas and may predispose to choroidal neovasularisation.

Keywords:

myopia, posterior staphyloma, retinal pigment epithelial atrophy, choroidal neovascular membrane

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