Skip to main content

How would approach this case of focal choroidal excavation?

Thirty-year-old female complaining from metamorphopsia vision is 20/25 

She reports that she previously had metamorphopsia nine years ago, and an ophthalmologist treated her with anti-VEGF.


Fundus image


Her fundus photograph shows a retinal scar with an abnormal foveal reflex.


Fundus picture of the focal choroidal excavation
Fundus picture of the focal choroidal excavation



Optical coherence tomography


Her OCT scan shows focal choroidal excavation forming a hyporeflective space and a disrupted ellipsoid zone, which explains the distorted vision. However, the negative cross-section shows normal retinal thickness with no elevation of retinal tissues and focal choroidal excavation with choroidal thickening and dilated vessel diameter in Haller's layer forming pachychoroid.

OCT cross-section shows focal choroidal excavation with pachychoroid
OCT cross-section shows focal choroidal excavation with pachychoroid

OCT cross-section (Negative) shows focal choroidal excavation with pachychoroid
OCT cross-section (Negative) shows focal choroidal excavation with pachychoroid


Fundus fluorescein angiography


FFA shows early hyper fluorescence, which increases in later phases in the form of a hotspot.


Early phase FFA shows early hyperfluorescence from a hotspot
Early phase FFA shows early hyperfluorescence from a hotspot







Mid phase FFA shows increased hyperfluorescence from a hotspot
 Mid phase shows increased hyperfluorescence from a hotspot



 

Late phase FFA shows early hyperfluorescence from a hotspot


Late phase FFA shows early hyperfluorescence from a hotspot


Diagnosis is a focal choroidal excavation.


Discussion 


Focal choroidal excavation is focal cupping of the choroid and not associated with any systemic disease. It usually features symptoms such as metamorphopsia or reduced vision, which can be accompanied by central serous chorioretinopathy or CNVm or polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, which may cause atrophy and RPE pump dysfunction.


The underlying etiology and mechanism is unknown but assumed to be congenital. Whenever the photoreceptors are detached from the RPE, it is termed non-conforming, which exhibited hypo reflective space, and the photoreceptors are not detached from the RPE. It is termed as conforming; however, it has a favorable prognosis when the associated pathology is treated.


I treated this patient as central serous chorioretinopathy by performing a microsecond subthreshold laser.


How would you manage this case??


Please check Clinical guidelines for central serous chorioretinopathy


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Adult-onset vitelliform macular dystrophy

One of the most common pattern dystrophies similar to best occurs in adulthood, as it appears as oval or yellowish macular material, originated from the debris of photoreceptors, or the RPE phagocytosis failure. Fundus image showing Adult-onset vitelliform macular dystrophy  On OCT, it appears as subretinal vitelliform material accumulation but above the RPE with intact ellipsoid zone and thus explains good visual acuity without an increase in retinal thickness. OCT cross-section showing Adult-onset vitelliform macular dystrophy Fluorescein angiography typically shows hypo-fluorescence at the area of vitelliform accumulation surrounded with hyper-fluorescence increases intensity in late phases; however, it may show liner, patchy, or ring-like, which is inconsistent with visual acuity. Adult-onset vitelliform macular dystrophy itself does not warrant any treatment; however, a regular follow up to monitor any progression to choroidal neovascularization. How would you approa...

Cellophane maculopathy

Caused by an epiretinal membrane, clinically, it appears as a sheen abnormal foveal reflex which features epiretinal membrane, due to inflammatory mediators and proliferation of glial cells secondary to a partial separation of posterior cortical vitreous. Fundus image shows cellophane maculopathy OCT features a hyperreflective band covering the inner retinal layers, causing minimal disturbance of inner retinal tissues. OCT cross-section shows epiretinal membrane  Cellophane maculopathy itself in individuals with good visual acuity may not need any interventions, but it is warranted to do a detailed peripheral retinal exam to rule out retinal tear or hole However, an epiretinal membrane may proliferate further and cause additional tangential traction. Thus, it may induce macular pucker or lamellar/pseudo hole and increase disturbance of inner retinal tissues, macular thickness, and reduction of vision. These patients may require pars plana vitrectomy to remove the epiretinal membran...

Approaching serous PED

Serous PED is a result of fluids leak via Bruch’s membrane to space between Bruch’s and RPE, causing an increased in hydrostatic pressure separating RPE from Bruch’s membrane. Fundus image  On clinical examination, a smooth, well-defined border of RPE elevation along with a slight pale appearance PED is associated with subretinal fluid or intraretinal hemorrhage. Fundus image showing serous PED with subretinal fluids and drusen Optical coherence tomography  On OCT, PED features smooth or irregular RPE elevation, which contains clear fluids that looks like a homogeneous hyporeflective area. PED may feature sub / intraretinal fluids accompanied by ellipsoid zone disruption. OCT cross-section showing serous PED with subretinal and intraretinal fluids Fluorescein fundus angiography On FFA, serous PED shows a distinct area of early hyperfluorescence, which increases in the mid and late phase due to dye pooling. FFA is useful to detect the presence of neovascular membrane. Fundus im...