title: Microcystic Macular Changes in Primary Open-angle Glaucoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe microcystic macular changes in patients with moderate to advanced primary open-angle glaucoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven eyes of 6 unrelated patients were retrospectively identified based on a disproportionately preserved macular thickness on optical coherence tomography (OCT) despite severe peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thinning. Patient demographic, history, and examination findings were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All identified patients were African American, relatively young (mean age, 43.8 y) and 5 of the 6 patients were males. Examination of individual macular OCT sections through areas of disproportionately preserved macular thickness invariably demonstrated numerous small cystic cavities within the inner nuclear layer. These microcystic changes were seen in areas of the macula that corresponded with areas of glaucoma-related ganglion cell loss, therefore mimicking the normal appearance of retinal thickness in the macular region. No other retinal pathologies were identified on the macular OCT to account for these changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study describes microcystic macular changes in mostly young, African American males with moderate to advanced primary open-angle glaucoma. Vitreous adherence to the internal limiting membrane preventing retinal collapse is a proposed mechanism. The disproportionately preserved macular volume may confound the diagnosis of glaucoma in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Eye Center, Durham, NC.
authors.forename: Joanne C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Sharon F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Freedman
authors.forename: Mays A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: El-Dairi
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asrani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology; D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods