SEROUS DETACHMENT OF MACULA - SECONDARY TO CONGENITAL PIT OF OPTIC NERVEHEAD

The ophthalmoscopic, biomicroscopic and fluorescein angiographic features of macular detachment secondary to congenital pit of the optic nervehead in five patients are presented. Angiography demonstrated focal hypovascularity in the region of the pit; leakage of dye from the optic nervehead capillaries around the pit in one patient; and choroidal hyperfluorescence due to loss of pigment from the pigment epithelium underlying the detachment in three patients. It failed to demonstrate evidence of leakage of dye from choroidal, retinal or optic-nerve blood vessels into the subretinal fluid. Evidence is presented that the subretinal fluid may be cerebrospinal fluid or vitreous fluid entering the subretinal space via the optic pit. In two patients, photocoagulation along the temporal margin of the optic nervehead was unsuccessful in reattaching the macula. © 1969.