Optical coherence tomography of tractional macular elevations in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

PURPOSE: To document the findings of optical coherence tomography in eyes with tractional macular elevation associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, paying special attention to differentiating between tractional retinal detachment and retinoschisis. DESIGN: Observational case series. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed images of optical coherence tomography obtained from 17 consecutive eyes (17 patients) with proliferative diabetic retinopathy without vitreous opacity and showing tractional macular elevation with or without foveal involvement. RESULTS: Tractional retinal detachment and retinoschisis could be differentiated in the cross-sectional images of optical coherence tomography. Retinoschisis with or without associated retinal detachment was observed in 16 of 17 eyes (94%), whereas retinal detachment was observed in only six of 17 eyes (35%). Five eyes showed both findings of retinal detachment and retinoschisis. CONCLUSIONS: Optical coherence tomography is useful for distinguishing tractional retinoschisis from retinal detachment in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular elevation. Tractional retinoschisis with or without retinal detachment is the most frequent pattern of tractional macular elevation in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.