- A condition that is characterized by exudation or diffusion abnormalities
from ectatic (dilated and tortuous blood vessels) and incompetent
retinal capillaries in the juxtafoveolar region
- Can be found as a developmental or congenital vascular anomaly or
an acquired condition.
- Clinical features:
- Symptoms: decreased vision secondary to serous exudation, macular
edema or hard exudates in areas adjacent to the telangiectasis
- These patients fall into several subgroups. Generally the entity
has been subdivided into 3 groups:
- Group 1: unilateral parafoveal telangiectasis, congenital
or acquired
- Typically occurs in males
- Yellow, lipid-rich exudation is usually present at
the outer margins of the area of telangiectasis forming
circinate-type exudate
- Group 2: Bilateral parafoveal telangiectasis
- Occurs in either males or females
- Usually have bilateral retinal thickening
- Blunted right-angle venules, superficial retinal crystals,
intraretinal pigment plaques, and subretinal neovascularization
are common findings
- Group 3: Bilateral perifoveal telangiectasis with retinal
capillary obliteration
- Progressive loss of vision from the obliteration of
the perifoveal capillaries
- Associated with a variety of systemic diseases including
polycythemia, hypoglycemia, ulcerative colitis, multiple
myeloma and chronic lymphatic leukemia
- Management:
- Early laser photocoagulation maybe helpful in restoring and
preserving central acuity for group 1
- Group 2 and 3 typically do not respond to photocoagulation
- Treatment of neovascularization when it develops in group 2
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