ATROPHIC FUNDUS LESIONS ASSOCIATED WITH UNTREATED RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY

PURPOSE: To document that lacunar, atrophic lesions of the retinal pig ment epithelium, previously reported as a complication of treatment, c an result from the natural course of retinopathy of prematurity, METHO DS: We reviewed photographs of patients diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity at the Casey Eye Institute between 1979 and 1996. Lacunar atrophic lesions of the retinal pigment epithelium were correlated wit h the clinical records of the affected patients, RESULT: Three untreat ed eyes of three patients with retinopathy of prematurity had lacunar atrophic lesions of the retinal pigment epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: The s pectrum of findings associated with untreated retinopathy of prematuri ty includes lacunar, atrophic lesions of the retinal pigment epitheliu m. These lesions are distinct from scars secondary to treatment and ar e possibly linked to macular dragging and exudative or serous retinal detachment.