An overview of peripapillary hyperreflective ovoid mass-like structures

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Optic Nerve Head Imaging
• Retinal Diseases

Background:

• Peripapillary hyperreflective ovoid mass-like structures (PHOMS) are recently identified findings in ophthalmic imaging.
• These structures appear across a spectrum of ocular conditions, from benign to pathological.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review ophthalmic findings associated with PHOMS in adult and pediatric patients.
• To provide an overview of the clinical relevance and potential mechanisms of PHOMS.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies reporting PHOMS.
• Analysis of ophthalmic imaging findings in various disease entities.
• Synthesis of current understanding regarding PHOMS formation and clinical significance.

Main Results:

• PHOMS are associated with diverse conditions including myopia, optic nerve head drusen, optic neuritis, white dot syndromes, ischemic optic neuropathy, retinal vascular occlusion, and papilledema.
• The formation of PHOMS is hypothesized to result from axoplasmic stasis due to optic nerve head crowding.
• PHOMS have been observed in both nonpathologic and pathologic ophthalmic disease entities.

Conclusions:

• PHOMS are associated with multiple optic nerve head pathologies, though their precise clinical significance is still under investigation.
• Understanding PHOMS formation mechanisms and their impact on visual function may be crucial for managing optic nerve head diseases.
• Further studies are warranted to explore PHOMS as potential early disease indicators or prognostic markers.