Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: Retinal microfolds, first observed after vitrectomy for myopic foveoschisis using optical coherence tomography (OCT), are believed to indicate strong retinal vascular traction. The aim of this study was to identify the incidence and characteristics of retinal microfolds in highly myopic eyes without vitrectomy. Methods: Highly myopic eyes (n=239; axial length >25 mm or refractive error <–8 D) for which OCT data were available in the Vitreoretina Service of our clinic were included. OCT results were reviewed and microfolds were detected in seven eyes (seven patients). We used an OCT–ophthalmoscope to confirm the precise location of the microfolds and investigated if microfolds affect retinal visual function using the Amsler grid chart in three eyes. Results: The incidence of microfolds was 2.9%. All microfolds coincided with retinal vessels. Microfolds coincided only with retinal arterioles in six eyes (86%) and with both arterioles and veins in one (14%). Subjective distortion was detected in the retinal area corresponding to the microfolds in two eyes (67%), but was not detected in one eye (33%) Conclusions: Retinal microfolds due to retinal vessels are not uncommon in these eyes. The coincident appearance of the microfolds and vessels suggests that inflexibility of the retinal vessels and retinal stretching due to ocular elongation may be main causes.
Keywords: myopia • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence • imaging/image analysis: clinical