A newly recognized maculopathy: benign symmetric oval-shaped foveal depigmentation.

PURPOSE

To characterize a newly recognized maculopathy, benign foveal depigmentation.

METHODS

Three patients with unusual foveal depigmentation were prospectively studied.

RESULTS

The patients were referred with a diagnosis of Stargardt's macular dystrophy. Ophthalmic examination revealed discrete, bilateral, symmetric, oval foveal depigmentation. This appeared to be at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium. These patients were followed for up to ten years with stable vision and no change in lesion size.

CONCLUSIONS

Benign foveal depigmentation is a maculopathy which has discrete, bilateral, symmetric, horizontally oval foveal depigmentation at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium. This appears to be visually benign.