Optical coherence tomography features of Best vitelliform macular dystrophy at different stages

[Objective] To observe the optical coherence tomography (OCT) features of Best vitellilorm macular dystrophy (BVMD) at different stages.[Methods] Twenty-eight BVMD patients (56eyes) were enrolled in this study.All the patients were examined for visual acuity,slit-lamp microscopy,direct ophthalmoscope,fundus photography,electrooculogram,fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and OCT.Fifty-six eyes were classified into stage 0 (eight eyes) 、Ⅰ (two eyes)、Ⅱ (10 eyes)、Ⅱ a (12 eyes)、Ⅲ(six eyes) 、Ⅳa (six eyes)、Ⅳb (five eyes) and Ⅳc (seven eyes) accordingly.The OCT features of BVMD at different stages were observed.[Results] The OCT results showed that the macular area was normal in eyes of stage 0; disturbance of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and subretinal hyporeflective area were found in eyes of stage Ⅰ; the location of the yellowish material between RPE and the inner segment and outer segment (IS/OS) with normal appearance in RPE and IS/OS interface were found in eyes of stage Ⅱ.In all the other progressing stages from Ⅱ a、Ⅲ and Ⅳ,the vitelliform material appeared as a thicker highly reflective lesion located between the outer nuclear layer and RPE layer,usually accompanied by optical hyporeflective lesion.Images of stage Ⅳ c were in similar appearance besides edema of retina.OCT images of Ⅳ b stage were demonstrated atrophy of retinal layer and IS/OS loss with fibrosis.[Conclusion]s OCT demonstrated the location of the yellowish material between RPE and IS/OS.Optical hyporeflective lesion between the outer nuclear layer and RPE layer accompanied thicker highly reflected lesion might be the characteristic image in stages Ⅱ a to Ⅳ of BVMD. Key words: Macular degeneration/diagnosis;  Tomography;  optical coherence;  Diagnostic imaging