title: Focal Choroidal Excavation in Retinal Dystrophies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the presence of focal choroidal excavation (FCE) in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), Stargardt's disease (STGD), and Best disease in the Indian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective consecutive case series included 309 eyes of 157 patients with RP (183 eyes), STGD (93 eyes), and Best disease (33 eyes) with good-quality, enhanced-depth spectral domain optical coherence tomography scans. Comprehensive ophthalmic examination data were collected. Characteristics of FCE, including location of FCE, type (conforming and non-conforming), maximal width, and depth, were noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FCE was found in 2 out of 33 (6%) eyes with Best disease and no FCE was found in eyes with RP or STGD. The location of the FCE was extrafoveal in both cases. The first case had non-conforming FCE while the second case had the conforming type and the FCE occurred in association with choroidal neovascularization in the second case. The first case maintained good visual acuity of 20/20 over the entire period of follow-up (14 months), while the second case had a visual acuity of 20/200 at the last follow-up (three years) due to scarred choroidal neovascular membranes. The FCE showed no change in both eyes over the entire duration of follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Focal choroidal excavation was found in 6% of eyes with Best disease, which remained stable throughout follow up. Eyes with RP and STGD did not have any FCE. Further studies are required to determine the role of vitelliform material in FCE development in Best disease.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Surgery (Eye), School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences , University of Ghana , Accra , Ghana.
authors.forename: Imoro Zeba
authors.initials: IZ
authors.lastname: Braimah
authors.affiliation: b Srimati Kanuri Santhamma Centre for Vitreo-Retinal Diseases, L. V. Prasad Eye Institute , Hyderabad , Telangana , India.
authors.forename: Shruthi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rapole
authors.affiliation: b Srimati Kanuri Santhamma Centre for Vitreo-Retinal Diseases, L. V. Prasad Eye Institute , Hyderabad , Telangana , India.
authors.forename: Sunila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dumpala
authors.affiliation: b Srimati Kanuri Santhamma Centre for Vitreo-Retinal Diseases, L. V. Prasad Eye Institute , Hyderabad , Telangana , India.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chhablani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002829:Choroid / Q000473:pathology*; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058499:Retinal Dystrophies / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000080362:Stargardt Disease; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D057826:Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Best disease; Focal choroidal excavation; Retinitis pigmentosa; Stargardts disease; retinal dystrophy