ABSTRACT
Four patients with pigment epithelial detachment due to age-related macular degeneration underwent clinical examination and optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan. A ring-shaped pattern on the fast retinal thickness maps of the OCT was observed for all of these patients with little central retinal thickness but increasing retinal thickness at the edge of the pigment epithelial detachment. The authors have coined the term "ring sign" to describe this pattern typically seen on the OCT scan in patients with pigment epithelial detachment with or without underlying choroidal neovascularization.
Subject(s)
Pigment Epithelium of Eye/pathology , Retinal Detachment/diagnosis , Tomography, Optical Coherence , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Macular Degeneration/diagnosis , Middle AgedABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To assess the outcome of laser photocoagulation in patients with diabetic macular edema. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-seven patients (51 eyes) with clinically significant macular edema (CSME) undergoing grid laser photocoagulation were included. Clinical examination and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed at baseline and 3 to 4 months after treatment. The central foveal thickness, mean inner macular thickness (average retinal thickness in fovea and inner macular circle), and mean macular thickness were calculated. Based on the greatest OCT thickness at baseline, patients were grouped according to mild (< 300 microm; Group 1), moderate (300 to 399 microm; Group 2), and severe (> or = 400 microm; Group 3) macular edema. RESULTS: Group 2 showed significant reductions in central foveal thickness (23 microm, P = .02), mean inner macular thickness (18 microm, P = .02), and mean macular thickness (9 microm, P = .04) with slight improvement in visual acuity. Groups 1 and 3 did not show any significant change in macular thickness values and there was a statistically insignificant worsening of visual acuity in these groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with moderate macular thickening of 300 to 400 microm benefit most from laser treatment. OCT may help in choosing the appropriate treatment for CSME based on the degree of macular thickening. Long-term studies are warranted to confirm these findings.
