Crystalline Maculopathy Secondary to Retinal Tear Without Detachment

Crystalline maculopathy secondary to chronic retinal detachment (RD) has previously been described. This article proposes a novel mechanism to explain crystalline formation in the absence of RD.

Two patients, who were referred for routine examination, were found to have a crystalline maculopathy in the setting of an asymptomatic, chronic-appearing, peripheral retinal tear. Fundoscopy and optical coherence tomography were used to assess the crystals and tear. No specimens were obtained.

We describe 2 cases of a crystalline maculopathy secondary to an asymptomatic peripheral retinal tear. We hypothesized macrophage ingestion of photoreceptor segments emanating from the tear may have contributed to macular crystalline deposition.

Because crystalline maculopathy can present in the setting of RD, there may be a shared pathogenesis between the 2 conditions.