title: Further insight into West African crystalline maculopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe new features and ocular coherence tomographic scans of individuals with West African crystalline maculopathy (WACM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 14 patients with WACM identified in the medical retina clinic during a 6-month period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Full ophthalmic examination and high-resolution ocular coherence tomographic imaging and fluorescein angiography where indicated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ethnicity and dietary history of individuals, location of crystals, and associated retinal comorbidity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients originated from several West African countries. Two patients had unilateral WACM. The crystals were yellow-green in color, birefringent, and located in the layer of Henle of the fovea. Coexistent retinal pathology was present in all patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several new features of the condition are described. Breakdown of the blood retinal barrier may play a role in the formation of the crystals.
authors: St Thomas' Hospital, London, England.
authors: Saul N
authors: SN
authors: Rajak
authors: Moin D
authors: MD
authors: Mohamed
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Pelosini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000354:Africa, Western / Q000208:ethnology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001718:Birefringence; D001813:Blood-Retinal Barrier; D015897:Comorbidity; D003460:Crystallization; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology*; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence