Congenital Retinal Macrovessel Without Any Ophthalmic Complications: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Congenital retinal macrovessels (CRMs) are uncommon, unilateral, enlarged, and aberrant vascular structures in the eye.
• While often asymptomatic, CRMs can compromise vision if complications like macular changes or hemorrhage occur, or if the vessel traverses the fovea.

Observation:

• A young female presented for a routine eye exam with no visual symptoms.
• Ophthalmoscopy revealed an incidental finding of a congenital retinal macrovessel in the right eye.
• Standard visual acuity and slit lamp examinations were normal.

Findings:

• Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) provided detailed visualization of the CRM's depth.
• OCTA facilitated analysis of the foveal avascular zone architecture in the presence of the CRM.

Implications:

• This case underscores the utility of OCTA in evaluating CRMs and associated foveal microvasculature.
• Understanding CRM morphology and its impact on the foveal avascular zone is crucial for comprehensive ophthalmological assessment.
• Routine screening may detect asymptomatic CRMs, prompting further investigation with advanced imaging techniques.