THE IMPACT OF CYSTOID MACULOPATHY IN USH2A RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA : A Retrospective 5-year Analysis

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Genetics
• Retinal Diseases

Background:

• Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited retinal diseases.
• Cystoid maculopathy (CM) frequently complicates RP, but its long-term impact remains unclear.
• USH2A gene mutations are a common cause of RP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the five-year outcome of eyes with USH2A-associated RP, comparing those with and without cystoid maculopathy (CM).
• To assess the clinical impact of CM on visual acuity and ellipsoid zone (EZ) loss in RP patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of USH2A-associated RP patients.
• Collected data on best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), ellipsoid zone (EZ) loss rate, and CM behavior over five years.
• Compared outcomes between eyes with and without CM, including treatment-naïve eyes with CM.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in visual acuity or EZ loss rate between RP eyes with and without CM over five years.
• Eyes with persistent CM showed slightly worse visual acuity.
• EZ loss rate accelerated during CM regression but returned to previous trends afterward.
• CM regression, recurrence, or persistence did not significantly impact BCVA or EZ loss rate.

Conclusions:

• Cystoid maculopathy (CM) does not appear to have a negative long-term impact on visual outcomes in USH2A-associated retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
• The presence and behavior of CM did not significantly alter the progression of visual acuity loss or ellipsoid zone loss in this cohort.