A large family with inherited optic disc anomalies: a correlation between a new genetic locus and complex ocular phenotypes

Outcomes of vitreoretinal surgery in retinal detachment associated with morning glory disc anomaly

Purpose:

Morning glory disc anomaly (MGDA) is associated with a high prevalence of retinal detachment (RD), sometimes requiring multiple surgeries. The study aimed to establish the outcomes of RD surgery in such eyes and predict factors influencing the outcome, if any.

Methods:

It was a retrospective observational study of 9 eyes that underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for RD associated with MGDA. Clinical and surgical details were correlated with outcomes of surgery as noted at the final follow-up.

Results:

PPV was performed in 9 eyes. Lensectomy was done in 5 of 9 eyes (55.5%) during PPV. Laser photocoagulation around the disc was performed in 55.5% (5/9) of the eyes. Silicone oil tamponade was used in 77.7% (7/9) of eyes and gas tamponade (14% C3F8) was used in 22.3% (2/9) of eyes. Attached retina at final visit was observed in 66% of the eyes (6/9). Two out of 3 eyes that were seen to have preoperative glial tissue at the disc had poor outcome (odds ratio 10, P = 0.16). Five out of 7 (71%) eyes that had silicone oil tamponade, had an attached retina. No identifiable breaks were noted preoperatively in 5 eyes, of which 4 (80%) had an attached retina postoperatively. Vision improved by 1 line in 67% of the eyes that underwent surgery.

Conclusion:

MGDA related RD presents a unique set of challenges; meticulous PPV with or without lensectomy can help in achieving a successful anatomical and functional outcome in about two-thirds of patients.

Familial Optic Disc Pits in 2 Father-Son Pairs: Clinical Features and Genetic Analysis

Congenital optic disc pits (ODPs) are well-circumscribed depressions within the optic disc. Thought to arise from anomalous closure of the optic fissure during embryonic development, they are now considered to lie on a broader spectrum of congenital optic disc anomaly (CODA). An increasing number of reports describe clustering of these cases within families, suggesting that inherited genetic elements play a role in disease predisposition. Here, we highlight the clinical features of 2 sets of father-son pairs affected with ODPs and provide preliminary molecular genetic analysis. Subjects underwent complete ophthalmological examination and imaging. In addition, whole-exome sequencing was carried out following informed consent. The resulting datasets were examined for potentially causal genetic variants, both in genes already known to be linked to CODA as well as those likely to lie in the same or similar genetic pathways. In this instance, no unambiguously causal variants were identified. This case series highlights the familial inheritance of ODPs, adding to the existing body of literature supporting an underlying genetic cause for this rare clinical entity. The inclusion here of specific molecular findings raises the hope that the genetic pathophysiology underlying rare entities like ODPs might be clarified in the future by the addition of similarly molecular-documented reports.

Management of Retinal Detachment Associated with Morning Glory Disc Syndrome

We report a case of morning glory disc anomaly in a young patient with tractional retinal detachment successfully repaired with complex pars plana vitrectomy, membrane peel, laser, and oil tamponade. A 19-year-old female with a history of right morning glory disc anomaly associated with PAX6 gene mutation presented with floaters, photopsia, central scotoma, and visual acuity (VA) of 1/200. A complex macula-involving tractional retinal detachment centered around the optic nerve with a morning glory disc anomaly. Retinal detachment was treated with 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with difficult separation of the posterior hyaloid. Fibrous preretinal membranes were peeled, a temporal relaxing retinotomy was required, subretinal fluid was drained through a superonasal retinotomy during air-fluid exchange, endolaser was applied, and tamponade was achieved with 1,000-centistoke silicone oil. The retina remained attached at 1-year follow-up, with VA count fingers throughout. Morning glory disc is a rare congenital anomaly associated with PAX6 gene mutation that most often occurs unilaterally. It is rarely associated with tractional retinal detachment. Optimization of visual outcome is imperative despite a poor visual prognosis.