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Optic disk pit morphology and retinal detachment: optical coherence tomography with intraoperative correlation
Emily M Gregory-Roberts1, Carlos Mateo, Borja Corcóstegui
1Department of Ophthalmology, Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.)
|December 11, 2012
Summary
Optic nerve head pits can cause retinal detachment. Surgical removal of surrounding tissue improves outcomes for these detachments, offering a potential treatment strategy.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Retinal diseases
- Optic nerve disorders
Background:
- The exact cause of optic nerve head pits and related retinal detachments is not fully understood.
- Optimal surgical methods for vision loss due to these conditions require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the morphology of optic nerve head pits using optical coherence tomography.
- To assess the effectiveness of surgical interventions for pit-associated retinal detachments.
Main Methods:
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to examine the optic disk morphology in patients with pits.
- Surgical outcomes were evaluated for patients undergoing vitrectomy and posterior hyaloid separation, with or without peripapillary tissue peeling.
Main Results:
- OCT revealed localized invaginations in 78% of pits and excavated structures in 17%.
- Condensed vitreous or glial tissue was observed in 89% of pits.
- Retinal detachment resolved completely in 6 out of 6 eyes after vitrectomy with additional fibrous tissue peeling, compared to 2 out of 3 eyes without this additional step.
Conclusions:
- Spectral domain optical coherence tomography effectively visualizes diverse optic pit anatomies.
- Condensed vitreous or glial tissue within optic nerve pits may play a role in the development of retinal detachment.
