Summary and Conclusions

  • In at least some highly myopic eyes (see example 2), vitreal retinal traction and retinoschisis can be documented with SD OCT. Removal of the traction via vitrectomy and membrane peel as well as intra-vitreal gas injection without vitrectomy may be viable options.
  • In some reported cases, fluid emanating from an optic disc pit can create a schisis-like separation of the inner layers of the retina. A detachment of the outer layers from the RPE appears to be a secondary process and improvement of VA has been reported following pneumatic displacement of the outer retinal layers.1
  • Occult pits (or pits very difficult to visualize ophthalmoscopically or with OCT) perhaps also result in retinoschisis in some patients.
  • Careful scrutiny of the two cases discussed in this presentation failed to reveal any evidence of optic nerve head pits.
  • It is unclear at present about the optimal time to intervene in such cases but macular retinoschisis has been documented to progress to retinal detachment in at least five patients.2
  • Careful follow-up, including SD OCT, appears to be very helpful to document progression and may lead to timely intervention.