Blog

• Diabetic retinopathy
  
• Branch retinal vein occlusion
  
• Radiation Retinopathy
  
• Macular Telangiectasia

• Ocular disease
  
  • Calcified macular drusen
    
  • Macular Telangiectasia
    
  • Bietti’s crystalline dystrophy
• Systemic disease
  
  • Oxalosis
    
  • Cystinosis
• Drug toxicity
  
  • Tamoxifen
    
  • Methoxyflurane
    
  • Canthoxanthine
    
  • Talc retinopathy

• Solar retinopathy
  
• Cystoid macular oedema
  
• Vitreomacular traction syndrome
  
• Adult vitelliform macular dystrophy
  
• Alkyl Nitrite ‘popper’ retinopathy

Optical coherence tomography demonstrated hyporeflective cavities and outer retinal loss temporal to both foveae (Fig 2). Red free photography highlighted the telangiectatic vessels and area of reduced retinal transparency (Fig 3). On fundus autofluorescence there was a reduction in the normal foveal hypoautofluorescence (Fig 4). On fluorescein angiography, telangiectatic vessels were prominent in the early phase and increasing hyperfluorescence seen in the late phase (Fig 5).

The clinical findings, diagnosis and prognosis were discussed at length with the patient. This included the characteristic slowly progressive nature of the condition. It was explained that at present no therapy has been proven effective in reducing the retinal loss. An Amsler grid was provided to allow self-monitoring between regular ophthalmic reviews. The patient was enrolled in the Macular Telangiectasia Project Study. In light of the asymmetrical cup to disc ratio and family history of glaucoma the patient underwent further evaluation for glaucoma.

Macular Telangiectasia Type 2 is an uncommon bilateral neurodegenerative condition affecting the maculae. Prevalence in epidemiological studies varies from 0.005%- 0.01% of the population.(1) It typically becomes symptomatic in patients 6th and 7th decade of life, with the most common complaints being difficulty reading and metamorhopsia.(2) There may be an association with diabetes mellitus, hypertension (as was the case in this patient) and cardiovascular disease.(3)

Clinical features, particularly in early stages, can be subtle. Findings are initially found in the temporal parafoveal area in a characteristic oval distribution. The most common macula signs include: loss of the foveolar reflex, reduced retinal transparency (graying), fine telangiectatic capillaries, right angle venules, intraretinal pigment hyperplasia and migration, crystalline deposits and foveal atrophy.(4,5) Less commonly there is a yellow spot at the fovea.

Pathologically there are changes in the macular capillary network as well as retinal atrophy with loss of Müller cells and photoreceptors.6 The exact aetiology of the condition is still incompletely understood but both genetic and environment factors likely play a role.(4)

Fundus imaging is especially useful in assisting with the diagnosis. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) changes can include an asymmetric foveal contour, hyporeflective inner retinal cavities, outer retinal atrophy and hyperreflective spots.(4,7) Autofluorescence imaging in eyes with normal macula pigment demonstrates central foveal masking (Figure 4, right image). In Macular Telangiectasia Type 2 there is either a reduction and/or redistribution in the macula pigment such that the normal central masking is lost.(1,4) Early phases of the FFA usually demonstrate characteristic telangiectatic capillaries temporal to the fovea. In the later phases of the angiogram these are associated with diffuse hyperfluorescence.(4)

The natural course of the disease may be complicated by the development of intra- or subretinal neovascularisation.(3) Anti-VEGF therapy may be of benefit for this(8), but does not appear to be useful in non-neovascular disease(9,10). Macular Telangiectasia Type 2 can also be associated with lamellar or full thickness macula holes for which the surgical outcomes are not as favourable as with typical idiopathic full thickness macular holes. This is likely related to underlying neurosensory atrophy.(11)

At present there is no effective therapy to slow the neurodegeneration however neuroprotection may be possible in the future with further understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease.