Visual prognosis of macular involvement in peripheral retinal vascular malformations

Abstract

The visual prognosis in eyes with and without macular pathology, after treatment of the primary, peripheral retinal vascular malformation (PRVM) was studied. Seventeen patients (16 eyes) underwent treatment of the PRVM with laser/cryopexy. In 13/17 eyes (76.4%) associated macular pathology included, macular oedema and/or hard exudates (5 eyes), epiretinal membrane (2 eyes), exudative retinal detachment (3 eyes), vascular malformation in macula (2 eyes) and macular hole (1 eye). Initial visual acuity ranged from counting fingers 20/200. After treatment of the primary lesion, the visual acuity improved in five eyes, decreased in one eye and remained stable in 7 eyes. Of the four eyes without macular involvement, the vision improved after treatment in two eyes and remained stable in two eyes. We conclude that a variety of macular lesions can reduce central vision in eyes with PRVM. After treatment of only the primary lesion, the macular lesions also show changes. Visual acuity can improve or remain stable after treatment of the primary lesion. Rarely, the vision can decrease.