Dark without pressure retinal changes in a paediatric age group.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Ophthalmology
• Retinal Imaging

Background:

• Dark without pressure (DWP) is a retinal finding characterized by a dark area in the mid-periphery.
• Associated imaging findings include attenuated hyperreflective outer segment bands on spectral domain OCT.
• This study focuses on DWP in young children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the clinical and imaging characteristics of DWP in young children.
• To compare findings in children with those previously reported in adults.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical charts and retinal images.
• Inclusion criteria: children with DWP seen in a pediatric eye clinic.
• Imaging modalities included fundus autofluorescence and spectral domain OCT.

Main Results:

• Six children aged 3-13 years with DWP lesions were identified.
• Lesions were incidental findings, located in the mid-peripheral retina, sparing the macula.
• Imaging revealed hypoautofluorescence and reduced outer segment/EZ line reflectivity, consistent with adult findings.

Conclusions:

• DWP in young children exhibits similar characteristics to those in adults.
• The dysfunction is located in the outer retina, but the etiology remains unknown.
• Recognizing DWP as a benign condition can alleviate patient anxiety and avoid further investigations.