Nanophthalmos and acquired retinoschisis

To report three cases of nanophthalmos associated with acquired (senile) retinoschisis.

Observational case series.

Complete ophthalmologic evaluation (including funduscopy with scleral indentation, total axial length measurement with A-scan, optical coherence tomography [Stratus 3 OCT; Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc, Dublin, California, USA], and fundus photography) of three consecutive patients presenting with nanophthalmos and acquired retinoschisis.

Three patients with nanophthalmos presented with bilateral acquired retinoschisis. One patient underwent a course of systemic steroids to treat concurrent and bilateral uveal effusion with macular edema. In this patient, one eye responded to this course of therapy without recurrence, while the fellow eye required vortex vein decompression with scleral windows, with subsequent, successful resolution. The average follow-up period was 40 months (range, eight to 95 months). Retinoschisis cavities remained stationary in each case.

Bilateral acquired retinoschisis may occur in patients with nanophthalmos, suggesting that there may be correlation in the mechanisms underlying these ocular disorders.