Inner retinal fenestration for paediatric optic disc pit maculopathy: a case series

To evaluate the efficacy of inner retinal fenestration as a surgical technique for the treatment of optic disc pit maculopathy (ODPM) in the paediatric population.

This is a retrospective, interventional case series of paediatric patients with ODPM treated at two tertiary hospitals in London by a single surgeon (SCW). All patients underwent pars plana vitrectomy with the creation of two inner retinal fenestrations and endogas tamponade. The partial-thickness retinotomies were made radial to the optic disc pit using a 25-gauge MVR blade. Anatomic and visual outcomes were determined by optical coherence tomography central retinal thickness and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), respectively.

A total of six eyes were included. Average patient age was 12.0 ± 3.5 years. Preoperatively all eyes demonstrated intraretinal fluid and/or serous detachment of the central macula. Patients were followed for a mean of 22.7 ± 16.1 months after surgery. Mean preoperative BCVA was logMAR 0.71 ± 0.29 (20/100). Mean postoperative BCVA was 0.49 ± 0.30 (20/63) at 2 weeks, 0.35 ± 0.33 (20/45) at 3 months and 0.16 ± 0.29 (20/32) at 1 year. Progressive resolution of intraretinal and subretinal fluid (SRF) was observed in all eyes, with central retinal thickness significantly improved by 2 weeks postoperatively (637.83 ± 209.09 µm preoperatively and 465.40 ± 169.86 µm postoperatively, p = 0.04). Recurrence of subretinal or intraretinal fluid was not observed.

Dual inner retinal fenestration is an effective technique that resolves fluid and restores vision in paediatric patients with ODPM. These results support the hypothesis that enabling egress of fluid into the vitreous cavity can achieve long-lasting amelioration of ODPM.