Long-term juxtafoveal retinal telangiectasia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the long-term natural history of idiopathic juxtafoveal telangiectasia (IJRT).


METHODS
Record review in 2 university-based and 2 private vitreoretinal practices sought patients with IJRT documented by color photographs and fluorescein angiograms (FAs) during the period January 1, 1980, to December 31, 1993. Patients then had repeated examinations and FAs.


RESULTS
Twenty patients with IJRT in 32 eyes had follow-up examinations. Fifteen patients had color photographs and FAs, and one had color photographs alone. Follow-up varied from 10 years to 21 years (average, 15 years). Six eyes were treated by laser photocoagulation at onset. Twenty-four of the 26 untreated eyes lost vision as measured by Snellen testing. Visual loss and morphologic progression depended on IJRT type. Six of 8 untreated eyes with type IA IJRT lost vision by >/ or = 3 lines (Snellen), 4 to 20/70 or worse. Vision loss was caused by progressive telangiectatic changes and intraretinal edema. Fifteen of 20 initially untreated eyes with type IIA IJRT developed either central retinal pigment epithelium membranes or subretinal neovascularization with loss of vision to 20/80 or less.


CONCLUSIONS
IJRT prognosis depends on type and clinical features. Long-term prognosis for central vision is poor.
Watzke
Robert C
RC
Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239-4197, USA. watzker@ohsu.edu
Klein
Michael L
ML
Folk
James C
JC
Farmer
Samuel G
SG
Munsen
Richard S
RS
Champfer
Robert J
RJ
Sletten
K R
KR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005584:Fovea Centralis; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D014792:Visual Acuity