Observational studyBMC ophthalmology2017
Atypical retinal pigment epithelial defects with retained photoreceptor layers: a so far disregarded finding in age related macular degeneration.
Observational study in BMC ophthalmology, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 13 citations in OpenAlex.
- Correlation Between RPE Aperture and Photoreceptor Integrity in Non-Neovascular AMD: A Longitudinal Study Using OCT and 3D Morphological Analysis.Translational vision science & technology · 2026Article
- Non-exudative OCT findings in neovascular AMD.Eye (London, England) · 2025Review
- IL-17A mediates inflammation-related retinal pigment epithelial cells injuryInternational journal of ophthalmology · 2025Article
- Serous maculopathy with absence of retinal pigment epithelium (SMARPE) associated with large drusen.International journal of retina and vitreous · 2024Article
- Progressive Dysmorphia of Retinal Pigment Epithelium in Age-Related Macular Degeneration Investigated by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging.Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2021Article
- Clinical features of cases with retinal pigment epithelium aperture.American journal of ophthalmology case reports · 2021Article
- Fundus autofluorescence imaging.Progress in retinal and eye research · 2021Review
- Imaging of a retinal pigment epithelium aperture using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography.Japanese journal of ophthalmology · 2021Article
- Retinal pigment epithelium apertures as a late complication of longstanding serous pigment epithelium detachments in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.Eye (London, England) · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
14 authors at 9 institutions in 7 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundTo report patients with age-related macular degeneration and atypical central retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) defects not attributable to geographic atrophy (GA) or RPE-tears with overlying preserved photoreceptor layers.
methodsMultimodal imaging case-series evaluating the course of atypical RPE- defects in patients with AMD using Color fundus images, Optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT-Angiography, fundus autofluorescence (FAF) and fluorescein-angiography (FA).
resultsTen patients were identified. Three patients had a prior RPE-rip and were excluded. Seven patients with a mean follow-up period of 47 ± 38 months after the occurrence of the RPE-defect were included (age range 71-87 years). Mean distance Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at initial presentation was 0.36 ± 0.29logMAR and at last follow-up visit 0.51 ± 0.43logMAR. Patients presented with clinically apparent GA on funduscopy and FAF, but preserved photoreceptor layers on optical coherence tomography (OCT). On FA there was early hyperfluorescence and late pooling visible. Over time, migration of RPE/drusenoid material right above the Bruch's membrane with concomitant decrease of hypoautofluorescence was detectable in 4 cases. An enlargement of the RPE-defect was apparent in the remaining 3 cases. The majority (n = 4) showed a drusenoid pigment epithelium detachment (PED) preceding the lesion.
conclusionsBeside GA and characteristic RPE-tears, another atypical form of RPE-defect with overlying preserved photoreceptor layers are found in AMD. This so far disregarded subgroup of patients present with reasonable visual function and long-term survival of photoreceptors layers. Repair mechanisms such as ingrowth of RPE/drusenoid material and persistent subretinal fluid (SRF), but also a RPE-independent visual cycle for cone photopigment within the neurosensory retina may contribute to their favorable course.
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