Structural, Microvascular, and Functional Findings Associated with Fovea Plana

To analyse structural (OCT), microvascular (OCTA), and functional changes (BCVA, mfERG) associated with fovea plana and to compare it to healthy controls.

A retrospective observational study was performed on 13 patients (26 eyes; aged 34.46 y ± 20.26) with a clinical picture of fovea plana and 15 controls (30 eyes; aged: 41.47 y ± 14.03).

In fovea plana, BCVA ranged from 0.25 to 1.0, with a spherical error of - 5.5 to + 18.0 dpt. Posterior segment changes included elevated papillomacular retinal fold, uveal effusion syndrome, crowded optic discs, and hypopigmented fundus. OCTA imaging of the superficial (FAZ-S), intermediate (FAZ-I), and deep foveal avascular zone (FAZ-D) confirmed absence of foveal avascular zone (FAZ-S in 13 eyes, FAZ-I in 21 eyes, and FAZ-D in 10 eyes). Fovea plana patients had a significantly smaller FAZ-S, FAZ-I, and FAZ-D than controls (p < 0.001). Within the fovea plana group, a smaller FAZ-S correlated with reduced BCVA (p = 0.004) and with reduced mfERGs in zones 1 and 2 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.017). Also, a smaller FAZ-D showed positive correlations with the mfERG, with statistically significant values in zones 1 and 2 (p = 0.003 and p = 0.017).

In conclusion, our results confirm an altered structural, microvascular, and functional pattern in patients with a clinical picture of fovea plana. As documented by the functional microvascular interactions in our study, the developmental arrest in foveation reflects the functional maturation by means of visual acuity and central retinal function.