Abnormal foveal avascular zone in nanophthalmos.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the foveas of nanophthalmic patients.


METHODS
Retrospective observational case series.


METHODS
Four nanophthalmic patients examined between April 2005 and April 2006 were included. Visual acuity (VA), refractive correction, axial length, corneal diameter, presence or lack of foveal light reflex, as well as fluorescein angiograms (FAs), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans of the maculae were evaluated.


RESULTS
None of the eight eyes had a foveal light reflex, corresponding to lack of a normal foveal pit on OCT. Fluorescein angiography showed no normal foveal avascular zones; all were either completely absent or small and rudimentary.


CONCLUSIONS
Nanophthalmic patients rarely have best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) better than 20/40 at any point in their lives, even with an absence of known complications, such as uveal effusion or glaucoma. In many patients, this visual deficiency may correspond to an absent or rudimentary foveal avascular zone and lack of a normal foveal pit.
Walsh
Mark K
MK
Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA.
Goldberg
Morton F
MF
D000368:Aged; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008850:Microphthalmos / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology