Histopathologic features of adult-onset foveomacular pigment epithelial dystrophy.

We studied the clinical and histopathologic characteristics of the eyes obtained after death from a patient with adult-onset foveomacular pigment epithelial dystrophy. The pigmentation seen in the central fovea corresponded histologically to a hyperplastic clump of retinal pigment epithelium. The pale yellow rim surrounding the central pigmentation corresponded histologically to dense periodic acid-Schiff-positive material underlying thinned, atrophic retinal pigment epithelium. Fluorescence microscopy demonstrated homogeneous autofluorescence in the retinal pigment epithelium that was similar in intensity to that of an age-matched control. The results of this clinicopathologic study suggest that in adult-onset foveomacular pigment epithelial dystrophy, an alteration of macular retinal pigment epithelium causes an accumulation of abnormal subretinal pigment epithelial material, photoreceptor degeneration, and serous retinal detachment.

Duke Scholars

Author Glenn Jay Jaffe Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery