The relationship between inner retinal cavitation, photoreceptor disruption, and the integrity of the outer limiting membrane in macular telangiectasia type 2.

PURPOSE

The authors analyzed the relationship between the integrity of the outer limiting membrane (OLM) and the presence of inner retinal cavitation and photoreceptor disruption in eyes with macular telangiectasia Type 2 (MacTel Type 2).

METHODS

Cirrus optical coherence tomography images were analyzed with attention to the presence or absence of inner and outer retinal cavities, photoreceptor loss, or disruption and OLM integrity.

RESULTS

Ninety-seven eyes with MacTel Type 2 that were suitable for analysis were identified. The OLM was intact in all 48 eyes with inner retinal cavities without photoreceptor disruption. By contrast, the OLM was absent or disrupted in 8 of 10 eyes with photoreceptor disruption.

CONCLUSION

If Müller cell disruption contributes to inner retinal cavitation, it does not appear to affect the OLM, which is the only part of the Müller cell that is visible clinically. By contrast, the integrity of both the OLM and photoreceptors appear to be closely linked in MacTel Type 2. This observation is consistent with the hypothesis that Müller cell dysfunction plays a role in the pathogenesis of MacTel.