Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 3, 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
Multimodal imaging of poppers maculopathy
Francesco Romano1,2, Alessandro Arrigo1, Andrea Sperti1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
Purpose:
To describe a case of poppers maculopathy by means of multimodal imaging.
Methods:
A 26-year-old male presented to our Department in April 2018 with a history of visual disturbances. He underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination, including optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence, and ultra-widefield fundus photograph.
Results:
At baseline, the patient presented a visual acuity of 20/25 Snellen bilaterally, with an altered foveal reflex on funduscopic examination. Structural optical coherence tomography showed disruption of the outer retinal layers in both eyes. After 6-month observation, the status of the outer retinal layers on optical coherence tomography and his vision (20/20) appeared improved. In this occasion, we performed optical coherence tomography angiography that revealed clear and persisting choriocapillaris alterations. Upon further interrogation, he admitted the episodic use of poppers, hence leading to the diagnosis.
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest that microvascular toxicity at the level of choriocapillaris may act as primary pathogenetic insult in poppers maculopathy.
