Optical coherence tomography findings in nonproliferative group 2a idiopathic juxtafoveal retinal telangiectasis.

PURPOSE

To determine the optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings in eyes with group 2a idiopathic juxtafoveal retinal telangiectasis (IJRT).

METHODS

Forty-one eyes of 22 patients with nonproliferative group 2a IJRT were examined. OCT testing including retinal topographic mapping and analysis, and horizontal and vertical line scans, was obtained on each eye.

RESULTS

None of the 41 eyes had a thickened foveal center. The average center foveal thickness was 166 microm (31-264 microm). Stage 1 eyes (n = 2) were normal fellow eyes in patients with contralateral group 2a IJRT. Stage 2 eyes (n = 11) all had parafoveolar temporal graying and intraretinal temporal fluorescein leakage, but rarely had photoreceptor disruption (18%) on OCT testing. Stage 3 eyes (n = 14) all had clinical and fluorescein findings similar to or more pronounced than stage 2 eyes. All stage 3 eyes also had one or more foveal cysts at various retinal depths on OCT. Most of these eyes (86%) had photoreceptor disruption and outer retinal atrophy on OCT. Stage 4 eyes (n = 14) all had a black foveal or parafoveolar pigment plaque and intraretinal temporal fluorescein leakage. All stage 4 eyes had a hyper-reflective plaque with shadowing on OCT corresponding to the pigment plaque. Most of these eyes had one or more foveal cysts (64%) and all of these eyes had photoreceptor disruption and outer retinal atrophy.

CONCLUSION

OCT helps in the staging of group 2a IJRT and reveals multiple retinal structural abnormalities.