Who wants to see my retina?

[dukey]

I just wanted to post a picture of my right retina. I was diagnosed with an RPE rip or tear a year or so ago. There is still some debate as some RS think this is simple RPE atrophy. From my own research though, this looks like an awful lot like an RPE rip, although a small one. The dark area is where the RPE literally rolls up after it breaks, the bright yellow is the bare Bruchs membrane. I was lucky as usually these lead to a traumatic and permanent (and unrepairable) loss of vision to 20/200 or worse. Mine was small and extra foveal. So far, vision is still 20/15 so fingers crossed and I'm staying positive. Cause is unknown but probably related to high myopia. Pretty rare.    

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Idiopathic = at our present stage of knowlege we just don't know

[dukey]

Yeh I have had my fair share of bad!!!! Oh well, that's life I guess. Sorry but what is the cause of most of your patients' RPE tears? Idiopathic, CNV....?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Most of my patients have been young or early middle age and NOT had ARMD.  Each of us has some good luck and some bad luck usually it evens out over a lifetime.

JCH MD

[dukey]

So what the hell happened? Why was I so lucky? (that is a serious question) Just the roll of the dice I guess. I'm assuming most of your patients develop these as a complication of ARMD though. Perhaps my age and underlying condition helped (28). My vision was a little rough at first but only 20/40 at its worst I would say. Night vision was terrible and colours were dull. That has all pretty much cleared up as of right now.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Yes I have a several patients with RPE tears,  most do not have the happy ending that yours does that near the macula/fovea.

JH MD

[dukey]

Indeed. I think by some weird chance, my fovea is in a slightly different place than usual or at least I have heard some RS suggest that. That may have spared my fovea but I still have a dense scotoma that is the EXACT shape of the lesion. I just about feinted when I saw this the first time. It appears these are self limiting and scar up over the years so I am hoping it will remain stable. Obviously I am VERY watchful for any new developments. Have you ever seen something like this Dr Hagan?  

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Very lucky man to see 20/15 when a retina like that.
JH MD

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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