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Further insight into West African crystalline maculopathy
Saul N Rajak1, Moin D Mohamed, Lucia Pelosini
1St Thomas' Hospital, London, England.
Objective:
To describe new features and ocular coherence tomographic scans of individuals with West African crystalline maculopathy (WACM).
Design:
Prospective observational case series.
Participants:
All 14 patients with WACM identified in the medical retina clinic during a 6-month period.
Methods:
Full ophthalmic examination and high-resolution ocular coherence tomographic imaging and fluorescein angiography where indicated.
Main Outcome Measures:
Ethnicity and dietary history of individuals, location of crystals, and associated retinal comorbidity.
Results:
Patients originated from several West African countries. Two patients had unilateral WACM. The crystals were yellow-green in color, birefringent, and located in the layer of Henle of the fovea. Coexistent retinal pathology was present in all patients.
Conclusions:
Several new features of the condition are described. Breakdown of the blood retinal barrier may play a role in the formation of the crystals.
