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Published on: June 14, 2021
[Spontaneous RPE tear in high myopia]
Piotr Fryczkowski1, Anna Jedruch, Maria Kmera-Muszyńska
1Katedry i Kliniki Okulistyki II, Wydziału Lekarskiego Akademii Medycznej w Warszawie.
Purpose:
The aim of this study is to present the case of a spontaneous retinal pigment epithelial tear in high myopia.
Material And Methods:
A 56 years old woman with high myopia (refractive error -10.0D) in both eyes and amblyopia in right eye since childhood, complained of a decrease in left eye vision for one and a half month. Full ophthalmic examination, fundus photography, ultrasound examination and indocyanine green angiography were performed.
Results:
At first visit BCVA was 5/25 in her left eye. A subretinal hemorrhage accompanied by retinal pigment epithelial tear inferotemporal to the fovea was found in ocular examination. B-scan ultrasound did not revealed any traction at the fovea. 3 months later BCVA was 5/16 OS. The area of the atrophy of RPE--Bruch's membrane--choriocapillaris complex expanded and hyperpigmentation occured above the RPE tear. 3 months later BCVA was 2/50 OS, we observed a dark brown pigment spot surrounded with a subretinal hemorrhage somewhat above the RPE tear. Indocyanine green angiography demonstrated an initial choroidal neovascularization at superotemporal edge of hypertrophic pigment epithelium (Fuch's spot).
Conclusions:
A spontaneous RPE tear might be the beginning of Fuchs' spot. A mechanical stress associated with eye movement is transmitted through the thin sclera and Bruch's membrane onto RPE and may cause a tear in its most vulnerable place i.e. at the margin of posterior staphyloma.
