An interesting case of "bear track dystrophy"

Abstract

Bear track dystrophy, is a rare condition, which forms part of the disorder known as the grouped congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE), a peculiar congenital anomaly of the retinal pigment epithelium diagnosed by its characteristic ophthalmoscopic appearance. This disorder is usually without any functional consequence with patients typically having a normal vision, color vision, normal visual fields, dark adaptation, electroretinography, and electrooculography findings. The main differential diagnosis of CHRPE includes choroidal naevus, choroidal melanoma, chorioretinal scar, subretinal hematoma, pigmented epiretinal membrane, and reactive retinal pigment epithelial hyperplasia. Since CHRPE, in itself is a totally benign condition with no associated ocular or systemic complications, it becomes that much more important to distinguish it from the more serious vision/life-threatening conditions like choroidal melanoma as well as from the other pigmented ocular fundus lesions associated with familial cancer syndromes like familial adenomatous polyposis.