Case Series: West African Crystalline Maculopathy

West African crystalline maculopathy is a rare crystalline maculopathy without a clear etiology. Although the crystals do not appear to be visually significant, there may be a role in the breakdown of the blood-retina barrier within the pathogenesis of this disorder.

The purpose of this case series is to describe two cases of West African crystalline maculopathy. These crystals do not affect vision, nor visual function. Because there are only 39 other documented cases in the literature, it is imperative to understand the differences and similarities in this rare maculopathy.

Case 1 was a 65-year-old Black woman with a history of proliferative diabetic retinopathy after panretinal photocoagulation was seen for routine examination. She recently emigrated from Tema, Ghana. Examination revealed asymmetric macular crystals consistent with West African crystalline maculopathy and quiescent proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Case 2 was a 60-year-old Black woman that presented for routine examination. She recently emigrated from Nigeria. Examination revealed macular crystals consistent with West African crystalline maculopathy with evidence of stage 1 hypertensive retinopathy and extramacular drusen.

West African crystalline maculopathy is a rare disorder that should be considered in patients who present with asymptomatic foveal crystalline deposits who are immigrants from West African countries.