Treatment of macular serous neuroretinal detachment in tilted disk syndrome: report of 3 cases.

PURPOSE

To describe functional and anatomic results obtained by treatment with photodynamic therapy (PDT) or intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin, Roche) in macular serous retinal detachment associated with tilted disk syndrome.

METHODS

Three eyes of 3 patients with symptomatic macular serous detachment associated with tilted disc syndrome (optic disc with an oblique axis, inferonasal crescent, and inferior staphyloma) were treated. In all patients, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was tested and fluorescein angiography (FA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed before and about 45 days after treatment. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination including OCT at least 6 months after treatment. The first patient was treated with one low fluence (300 mW/cm2 for 83 seconds) PDT (6 months follow-up). The second patient was treated with 3 intravitreal injections of bevacizumab 1.25 mg (33 months follow-up) and the third patient was treated with 2 low fluence PDTs at 4 months and, after 1 year, 3 intravitreal injections of bevacizumab 1.25 mg (37 months follow-up).

RESULTS

Before treatment, all patients complained of visual loss and metamorphopsia. The OCT showed in the macular area a focal neurosensory detachment with foveal involvement. The FA showed in the macular area multiple focal areas of hyperfluorescence due to pigment epithelium atrophy and in the second and third patient also a hyperfluorescent pinpoint with minimal leakage. After treatment in all eyes, symptoms did not change, BCVA remained stable, and in OCT the foveal neuroretinal detachment was changeless. In FA, no noticeable variation of the hyperfluorescence areas was appreciated. In the second patient, the hyperfluorescent point remained unvaried, and the same occurred in the third patient after the first PDT, while after the second PDT a new leaking dot disappeared.

CONCLUSIONS

Macular serous retinal detachment was first described in 1998 as an uncommon complication of tilted disc syndrome showing angiographic and OCT features similar to a chronic central serous chorioretinopathy. In contrast to this pathology, in our patients treatment with PDT or intravitreal bevacizumab did not succeed, probably because of a different pathogenesis of macular serous detachment. Further investigations are needed to clarify the proper therapy of this disease.