CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF IDIOPATHIC FOVEOMACULAR RETINOSCHISIS

Vitrectomy for macular retinoschisis associated with peripapillary intrachoroidal cavitations in a moderately myopic eye

Background

Peripapillary intrachoroidal cavitation (PICC), a cavernous change in the peripapillary choroid, may present with macular lesions. Here, we present a rare case of PICC with outer lamellar macular hole and macular retinoschisis.

Case presentation

A 69-year-old man presented with metamorphopsia in the left eye. Fundus examination revealed macular retinoschisis and PICCs. Pars plana vitrectomy with fovea sparing internal limiting membrane peeling (FSIP) was performed. Three weeks postoperatively, the patient developed rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and underwent a second vitrectomy. The macular retinoschisis resolved without macular hole formation and the patient’s visual acuity improved. There were no recurrent macular lesions over the three years of postoperative follow-up. Postoperative spectral-domain optical coherence tomography scan revealed a communication between the PICC and the vitreous cavity.

Conclusions

This case shed light on understanding development of PICC in non-highly myopic eyes and a rare complication of macular retinoschisis. Vitrectomy with FSIP may effectively resolve macular retinoschisis.

Stellate nonhereditary idiopathic foveomacular retinoschisis and an approach to the differential diagnosis of macular star

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review aims to introduce stellate nonhereditary idiopathic foveomacular retinoschisis (SNIFR) and its differential diagnosis. We summarize findings from case reports and series published in the last few years on the clinical and imaging findings in SNIFR.

RECENT FINDINGS

SNIFR presents as either a unilateral or bilateral macular star on fundus examination without clinical or imaging evidence of exudation or frank vitreomacular traction. optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging shows schisis cavities in the Henle fibre and outer plexiform layers that correspond to the stellate en face findings. Visual acuity is usually minimally affected, and the presence of significant vision loss should prompt high clinical suspicion for alternate diagnoses.

SUMMARY

SNIFR is a recently characterized clinical entity that serves as an important addition to the differential diagnosis of a macular star. It is a diagnosis of exclusion and should be distinguished from other causes of macular star such as neuroretinitis, vitreomacular traction, ocular manifestations of malignant hypertension, congenital juvenile X-linked macular schisis, myopic maculopathy, optic pit maculopathy, nicotinic acid maculopathy or taxane maculopathy among others.

Role of the Epipapillary Membrane in Maculopathy Associated with Cavitary Optic Disc Anomalies: Morphology, Surgical Outcomes, and Histopathology

Purpose

To evaluate the surgical outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with epipapillary membrane removal in patients with maculopathy associated with cavitary optic disc anomalies.

Methods

Eight patients (8 eyes) with cavitary optic disc anomaly-associated maculopathy who underwent PPV with epipapillary membrane removal were retrospectively reviewed. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and macular and papillary morphologies using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) were evaluated before and after treatment. Immunohistochemistry for an intraoperatively excised epipapillary membrane tissue was also performed.

Results

Before surgery, EDI-OCT revealed that epipapillary membrane was observed in all patients. Retinoschisis was resolved with no recurrence in all patients following vitrectomy regardless of a disease type or the presence or absence of preoperative posterior vitreous detachment. The mean final BCVA and central retinal thickness significantly improved compared with pretreatment values (P = 0.008 and 0.004, resp.). Immunoreactivity for S100 protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein, markers of astrocytes, was positive in the resected membrane tissues.

Conclusions

These results suggest that epipapillary membrane is involved in the pathogenesis of some patients with cavitary optic disc anomaly-associated maculopathy as well as posterior hyaloid membrane. PPV with epipapillary membrane removal may be a useful treatment option for this maculopathy. This trial is registered with UMIN000011123.

STELLATE NONHEREDITARY IDIOPATHIC FOVEOMACULAR RETINOSCHISIS ACCOMPANIED BY CONTRALATERAL PERIPHERAL RETINOSCHISIS

PURPOSE

To present a patient with stellate nonhereditary idiopathic foveomacular retinoschisis on one eye and peripheral retinoschisis without foveal affection on the other eye.

METHODS

A case report with complete workup of family history and clinical examination, including multimodal imaging with optical coherence tomography and angiography, fluorescein angiography, and infrared fundus imaging. Genetic testing for gene mutation XRLS1 was performed.

RESULTS

A white woman with unremarkable medical history presented with stellate foveal splitting of the outer plexiform layer on the right eye and peripheral splitting of the outer plexiform layer on both eyes. All known allegeable trigger factors for the existence of a hereditary or acquired foveomacular retinoschisis were ruled out either by clinical presentation or genetic testing. This led to the diagnosis of stellate nonhereditary idiopathic foveomacular retinoschisis with central involvement only present on one eye.

CONCLUSION

Although peripheral schisis of the outer plexiform layer is often concomitant with central splitting in X-linked juvenile retinoschisis, this is the first known report of nonhereditary cleavage of the outer plexiform layer of the peripheral retina without central affection in a patient with documented stellate nonhereditary idiopathic foveomacular retinoschisis on the other eye. These findings suggest an accurate bilateral examination of the peripheral retina while confirming the diagnose of stellate nonhereditary idiopathic foveomacular retinoschisis.