Rupture of retinal pigment epithelial detachment in senile macular disease

Three eyes with senile detachment of the retinal pigment epithelium were complicated by tearing of the detached pigment epithelium with subsequent wrinkling or folding up of the pigment epithelium under the fovea. In all cases this only recently recognised complication of senile pigment epithelial detachment was documented before and after tearing by fluorescein angiography. In one eye pigment epithelial rupture was followed by rapid ingrowth of subretinal neovascularisation, and in one eye neovascularisation was suspected, although no definite new vessels could be observed.