Abstract
Purpose :
To examine the histological aspects of myopic patchy atrophies in eyes with pathological myopia.
Methods :
Using light microscopy, we histomorphometrically examined human enucleated eyes
Results :
The histomorphometric study included 10 eyes of 10 highly myopic patients (mean age: 69.7±18.1 years; axial length:31.1±2.3mm;range:28.0-36.0mm). None of the patchy atrophies showed a neighboring region with irregularities in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) corresponding to a parapapillary alpha zone of the optic nerve head region. RPE cell density did not differ significantly between the region just at the end of BM without RPE (19.4±4.5 cells/unit) and the neighboring region with RPE (19.0±3.3 cells/unit;P=0.60). Bruchs membrane (BM) thickness did differ significantly between the region with BM void of RPE cells and the adjacent region with BM covered by RPE cells (2.8±1.2µm versus 3.2±1.0µm; P=0.12).
Conclusions :
Myopic patchy atrophies share similarities with the myopic parapapillary beta zone with the common features of an absence of an alpha zone-like region and a normal appearing RPE cell layer at the margin of the region of BM free of RPE cells (as equivalent of the parapapillary beta zone). The findings support the notion, that patchy atrophies may be associated with an expansion hole in the RPE cell layer in the macular region.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.