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Updated: Jan 17, 2026
Author Spotlight: Ex Vivo OCT-Based Multimodal Imaging of Human Donor Eyes for Research into Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Published on: May 26, 2023
Idiopathic Acute Exudative Polymorphous Vitelliform Maculopathy: A five-year follow-up
Rémi Pyra1, Isabelle Audo2, Hajar Jebrane3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Pierre Zobda Quitman Hospital, Fort de France, France.
Purpose:
The pathophysiology of idiopathic acute exudative polymorphic vitelliform maculopathy (AEPVM) is not fully understood. It is a rare disorder and very few cases are reported with long-term follow-up. Here we report a case of AEPVM followed-up over 5 years.
Methods:
Review of medical chart, electrophysiologic findings and multimodal imaging including spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Spectralis OCT, Heidelberg Engineering, Germany), fundus autofluorescence (FAF), fluorescein angiography (FA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA).
Patients:
A 34-year-old patient.
Results:
Initial visual acuity (VA) was 20/20 in both eyes. Fundus exam revealed bilateral symmetrical multifocal serous retinal detachments and vitelliform lesions affecting the fovea. Complete systemic work-up ruled out neoplastic disorders. A decreased Arden ratio on EOG was present. Genetic testing for Best disease was negative. The long-term follow-up revealed improvement but incomplete resolution of vitelliform lesions. The patient's final VA was 20/20 in both eyes.
Conclusion:
We describe a case of AEPVM which maintained good central VA despite long-term persistence of central vitelliform lesions.
Insights
Idiopathic acute exudative polymorphic vitelliform maculopathy (AEPVM) is rare, but this case shows good visual acuity is maintained long-term. Despite persistent vitelliform lesions, central vision remained 20/20 over five years.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Retinal Diseases
- Macular Degeneration
Background:
- Idiopathic acute exudative polymorphic vitelliform maculopathy (AEPVM) pathophysiology is poorly understood.
- Long-term follow-up data for AEPVM is scarce.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a 5-year follow-up of a rare AEPVM case.
- To describe the clinical course and imaging findings of AEPVM.
Main Methods:
- Multimodal imaging: spectral-domain OCT, FAF, FA, ICGA.
- Electrophysiologic testing (EOG) and genetic testing.
- Systemic work-up to rule out other disorders.
Main Results:
- A 34-year-old patient presented with bilateral AEPVM.
- Initial and final visual acuity remained 20/20.
- Improvement but incomplete resolution of vitelliform lesions observed over 5 years.
Conclusions:
- AEPVM can maintain good visual acuity despite persistent vitelliform lesions.
- This case highlights the importance of long-term monitoring in AEPVM.
