Outer retinal tubulations in central serous chorioretinopathy associated with choroidal neovascularisation

Abstract

Aim To report the prevalence and characteristics of outer retinal tubulations in eyes with choroidal neovascularisation associated with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy. Methods Retrospective case series which included evaluation of optical coherence tomography B-scans and enface optical coherence tomography scans of eyes with choroidal neovascularisation associated with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy. The characteristics of outer retinal tubulations such as number, shape and distribution were noted. The location of the outer retinal tubulations was correlated with autofluorescence. Results Outer retinal tubulations were detected in 9.1% of the eyes (9 out of 87 eyes). The average number of outer retinal tubulations in each eye was 4.7 ± 4.6. Spheroidal outer retinal tubulations were more common than the branching tubules. Although presence of outer retinal tubulations was mostly associated with inactive disease, two eyes had coexistent subretinal fluid. Conclusion Outer retinal tubulations associated with choroidal neovascularisation in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy, though less frequent, when present are more numerous, mostly extrafoveal and more spheroidal in shape compared to outer retinal tubulations associated with age-related macular degeneration and other degenerative conditions.

Choroidal Vascularity Features in Patients with Choroideremia and Cystoid Spaces

“…ORTs or rosette-like structures have been described in the setting of several chorioretinal disorders [26][27][28]. Although the pathogenic mechanism leading to the formation of the tubules remains uncertain, onset of ORTs correlates with the damage of photoreceptors and/or RPE, and has been proposed as a prognostic feature of disease severity [26].…”