Secondary Giant Retinal Cyst

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Giant retinal cyst is formed by a localized and circumscribed splitting of the retina into two layers. It may often be confused with retinal detachment. We describe three cases of giant retinal cysts associated with retinal detachment associated with uveitis, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: A retrospective, observational case series. RESULTS: Two cases of giant retinal cyst were associated with uveitis: one detected during pars plana vitrectomy for total retinal detachment associated with chronic uveitis, and the other detected after scleral buckling procedure for retinal detachment associated with pars planitis. These cysts completely disappeared following drainage of fluid and laser photocoagulation to the flattened cyst. A case of retinal cyst secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy and vitreous hemorrhage was observed to be free of complication and progression without any surgical intervention for 9 months. CONCLUSIONS: Giant retinal cyst may result from intraretinal degenerative change caused by retinal capillary ischemia, vitreous traction and intraretinal leakage from the neovascularization. The cyst is considered to be stable without treatment in some cases, and in others it may be resolved with pars plana vitrectomy, fluid drainage and laser photocoagulation.