Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 25, 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
Dome-shaped macula simulating choroidal hemangioma in a myopic patient
Prashanth G Iyer1, Emil Anthony T Say1, Carol L Shields1
1Ocular Oncology Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
Abstract:
To describe a case of dome-shaped macula simulating a choroidal hemangioma and discuss multimodal imaging features to distinguish between these disorders. A 52-year-old myopic male with a refraction of -8.00 D in both eyes developed blurred vision in the left eye OS) over 4 years. Fundus examination of the right eye (OD) was unremarkable. In OS, there was a subtle orange-colored mass in the macular region with subretinal fluid, suggestive of choroidal hemangioma. Upon referral, our examination disclosed an echodense mass on ultrasonography of OS, measuring 1.0 mm thickness, and additional staphyloma was noted. Enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) confirmed subfoveal fluid over a dome-shaped mass that originated in the sclera and not the choroid, consistent with the dome-shaped macula. The OD showed similar features, but to a lesser degree. Both eyes demonstrated choroidal thinning on EDI-OCT, related to high myopia. Dome-shaped macula can masquerade as choroidal hemangioma, especially when associated with subretinal fluid. In these cases, EDI-OCT can document "tumor" origin from within the sclera and not the choroid.

