Adult-onset foveomacular vitelliform dystrophy

Adult-onset foveomacular vitelliform dystrophy (AOFVD) is a condition that presents classically as bilateral, symmetrical, grayish-yellow, round or oval-shaped lesions within the macular area. These lesions are mildly elevated and are typically one third to one half disc diameter in size. The onset of the disease is usually between 30 and 50 years of age with variable genetic inheritance, although some have suggested an autosomal dominance inheritance pattern. Patients with AOFVD typically present with symptoms of blurred vision or mild metamorphopsia. Results of diagnostic testing show a normal or mildly subnormal electro-oculogram (EOG). Fluorescein angiography results (FA) typically show hypofluorescence in the area corresponding to the vitelliform lesion and a surrounding ring of hyperfluorescence. Results of optical coherence tomography (OCT) show the vitelliform lesion as being located in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) layer or between the RPE and photoreceptor layer.

Two cases of AOFVD are presented with each patient having different macular appearances owing to the different stage of the disease process. In case 1, a 76-year-old white man presented with stage II AOFVD characterized by typical vitelliform lesions. His best-corrected acuities were 20/70+ in the right eye (O.D.) and 20/80- in the left eye (O.S.). In case 2, a 54-year-old white man presented with stage V AOFVD with bilateral atrophic maculae with best-corrected acuities of 10/60- O.D. and 10/160- O.S.

Patients with adult-onset foveomacular vitelliform dystrophy typically have slow progressive vision loss. However, patients can develop dramatically decreased vision owing to subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Thus, it is important to establish the correct diagnosis and monitor this condition. Furthermore, because there are reports of AOFVD having an autosomal dominance inheritance pattern with variable penetrance, it is recommended that the patient's family members have a comprehensive eye examination to rule out any early signs of this rare eye condition.