Clinicopathological correlation of retinal pigment epithelial tears in exudative age related macular degeneration: pretear, tear, and scarred tear

Aims-To analyse the histopathology of vascularised pigment epithelial detac hments and tears of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in age related mac ular degeneration (AMD). Methods-The light microscopic architecture of 10 surgically removed subreti nal specimens-three vascularised pigment epithelial detachments, four recen t tears, and three scarred tears as a manifestation of AMD-were studied and correlated with the angiographic findings. Results-Recent tears: a large fibrovascular membrane was found to be origin ally situated in Bruch's membrane. About half of the surface of the fibrova scular tissue was denuded of RPE and diffuse drusen. The RPE and diffuse dr usen had retracted and rolled up, covering a neighbouring part of the intra -Bruch's fibrovascular membrane. The rolled up RPE and diffuse drusen were not interspersed with fibrovascular tissue but lay superficial to the intra -Bruch's fibrovascular membrane itself. Scarred tears: a collagen capsule s urrounded the rolled up diffuse drusen and RPE. Fibrovascular tissue was fo und inside the rolled up material, predominantly at its choroidal side. Conclusion-The area of choroidal neovascularisation associated with a vascu larised pigment epithelial detachment and a tear of the RPE may be larger t han was hitherto thought or indicated by fluorescein angiography, This neov ascular tissue may be present within the bed of the RPE tear, as well as at the site of the scrolled up RPE.