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Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Author Spotlight: Ex Vivo OCT-Based Multimodal Imaging of Human Donor Eyes for Research into Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Published on: May 26, 2023
Simple hamartoma of the retinal pigment epithelium with macular edema
Austin Bach1, Aaron S Gold, Victor M Villegas
1*DO, MPH †OD ‡MD §CRA ∥BSN, MBA **BSc, CDOS ††MD, MBA Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, Florida (AB); and Murray Ocular Oncology and Retina, Miami, Florida (ASG, VMV, ACW, AL, FJE, TGM).
Purpose:
Presumed congenital simple hamartoma of the retinal pigment epithelium (CSHRPE) is a rare intraocular finding that is described as a focal, nodular, jet black lesion. These lesions frequently occur at or near the macula and have no known association with changes in the surrounding neurosensory retina, retinal pigment epithelium, or choroid, nor have they been related with exudation or hemorrhage. Until now, there have been no cases reported of CSHRPE with associated vascular activity.
Case Report:
A 14-year-old Hispanic adolescent girl with a presumed CSHRPE presented with adjacent macular edema. The patient was treated with an off-label intravitreal bevacizumab injection to decrease the edema. Two months later, the patient presented with improved visual acuity and decreased macular edema.
Conclusions:
This is the first documented case of macular edema secondary to vascular activity being associated with these rare lesions. When CSHRPE is found to have secondary vascular activity and associated macula edema, treatment of intravitreal bevacizumab may lead to improved visual and anatomical outcomes.
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