A NEWLY RECOGNIZED MACULOPATHY - BENIGN SYMMETRICAL OVAL-SHAPED FOVEAL DEPIGMENTATION

Purpose: To characterize a newly recognized maculopathy, benign foveal depigmentation, Methods: Three patients with unusual foveal depigment ation mere prospectively studied. Results: The patients were referred with a diagnosis of Stargardt's macular dystrophy. Ophthalmic examinat ion revealed discrete, bilateral, symmetric, oval foveal depigmentatio n, This appeared to be at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium, These patients were followed for up to ten years with stable vision a nd Ilo change in lesion size. Conclusions: Benign foveal depigmentatio n is a maculopathy which has discrete, bilateral, symmetric, horizonta lly oval foreal depigmentation at the level of the retinal pigment epi thelium, This appears to be visually benign.