title: PERIPHERAL PIGMENTED STREAKS IN EYES WITH PATHOLOGIC MYOPIA.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence and the characteristics of peripheral pigmented streaks in the eyes with pathologic myopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The widefield fundus images of 375 eyes (203 patients) with pathologic myopia were examined. The characteristics of the pigmented streaks existing in the peripheral fundus were analyzed. The spatial relationships between the steep edge of a staphyloma and the distribution of the streaks were also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peripheral streaks were observed in 165 of the 375 eyes (44.0%) as dark, pigmented, radially oriented lesions resembling octopus tentacles. The streaks ran from the mid periphery to the equator. Large choroidal vessels were observed in the corresponding sites, so the streaks probably existed in the layer of the large choroidal vessels or deeper. The patients with streak lesions were significantly older and had a posterior staphyloma more frequently than the eyes without the streaks. The streaks were observed mainly in the area opposite the steep edge of a staphyloma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peripheral pigmented streaks are seen in approximately 44% of eyes with pathologic myopia. The streaks existed in the layer of large choroidal vessels or deeper, and the thinning of the choroid-retina in highly myopic eyes contributes to the visibility of such deep lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kosei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shinohara
authors.forename: Muka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moriyama
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohno-Matsui
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047728:Myopia, Degenerative / Q000473:pathology*; D010781:Photography; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000473:pathology*