Abstract
Purpose: :
Cystoid macular edema (CME) is a known clinical feature of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). Its presence has been demonstrated as a marker of theblood-retina barrier breakdown, as well as inflammation secondary to systemic sensitization to retinal proteins. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the presence of CME in RP patients correlates with a faster progression of visual field loss.
Methods: :
A retrospective case-control study of 28 RP patients evaluated by a single author between 2001 and 2009. Fourteen consecutive patients with CME demonstrated by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and/or fluorescein angiography were included. They were matched (by inheritance, age, and gender) with 14 RP patients without clinical evidence of CME. When possible, sibling and related pairs were included. Medical records were reviewed for the following: visual acuity, present age, age at symptom onset, gender, inheritance, and presence of CME. Goldmann perimetry was performed at each clinical visit. The visual field area of the I4e, III4e, and IV4e isopters was measured using a digital planimeter.
Results: :
56 eyes of 28 patients were included in the study. A mixed linear regression model revealed no difference in the rate of visual field constriction of all isopters between the RP only and RP with CME groups.
Conclusions: :
The presence of CME in RP does not portend faster visual field loss in our analysis. Further study is needed however, as a larger sample size may reveal a significant correlation between CME in RP patients and faster progression of visual field loss.
Keywords: retinal degenerations: hereditary • edema • visual fields