Insight into intraretinal crystalline deposits in type 2 macular telangiectasia

Abstract

Evaluation of: Sallo FB, Leung BA, Chung M et al. MacTel Study Group. Retinal crystals in type 2 idiopathic macular telangiectasia. Ophthalmology 118, 2461–2467 (2011).

Idiopathic macular telangiectasia (MacTel) is a bilateral anomaly of retinal capillaries that involves the juxtafoveal region around the horizontal raphe. Clinical features include intraretinal crystalline deposits, subretinal pigment plaques, right-angle vessels, inner lamellar cysts and, in some cases, subretinal neovascularization. Currently, there is no effective treatment for this condition and the etiology is unknown. Funded by the Lowy Medical Research Institute Ltd., the MacTel Study Project is a worldwide multicenter endeavor dedicated to exploring the causes of MacTel and investigating possible treatments. In the featured article, the study group characterizes the intraretinal crystalline deposits associated with MacTel.

Keywords::

• intraretinal crystalline deposits
• macular telangiectasia
• Müller cells
• subretinal neovascularization

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.