[Three cases of retinal arterial macroaneurysm on the optic disc].
BACKGROUND
Retinal arterial macroaneurysm typically involves the second order arterioles and is relatively uncommon on the optic disc. Here, we present three cases of retinal arterial macroaneurysm.


METHODS
Case 1 was a 56-year-old woman, Case 2 was a 78-year-old man, and Case 3 was an 86-year-old man. In Cases 1 and 3, the fundus could not be observed visually at the time of initial examination because of vitreous bleeding. Retinal arterial macroaneurysm was revealed during vitrectomy. In Case 2, retinal arterial macroaneurysm was found on the optical disc along with a retinal hemorrhage which disappeared without any treatment. In all three cases, visual acuity was normal after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Since retinal arterial macroaneurysm on the optical disc may be overlooked when treating vitreous bleeding in cases where the cause is not known, we believe that retinal arterial macroaneurysm should be taken into consideration as a possible underlying cause. While photocoagulation of retinal arterial macroaneurysm on the optic disc is infrequently used to, localized photocoagulation retinal arterial macroaneurysm on the optic disk is considered to be difficult. We are of the opinion that progression should be observed carefully till the macroaneurysm is absorbed.
Hirano
Kaori
K
Department of Ophthalmology, Naruto General Hospital, Sanmushi, Japan. somalwark@yahoo.co.jp
Mitamura
Yoshinori
Y
Ogata
Kazuha
K
Yamamoto
Shuichi
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009898:Optic Disk; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology