Retinal pigment epithelial tear and extensive exudative retinal detachment following blunt trauma

Abstract

A large peripheral retinal pigment epithelial tear can occur in patients with retinochoroidal folds following blunt ocular trauma, and extensive retinal detachment can be induced. Sclerectomy and sclerostomy can be beneficial in patients with an extensive exudative retinal detachment caused by choroidal leakage from the denuded Bruch's membrane.

Optical coherence tomography of a giant, traumatic tear in the retinal pigment epithelium

“…Traumatic RPE tears are rare (Levin et al 1991;Doi et al 2000). Retinal pigment epithelial tears are most commonly seen with RPE detachment associated with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (Hoskin et al 1981;Patel et al 1992); they have also been associated with chorioretinal scarring, retinal detachments, laser photocoagulation and glaucoma surgery (Cantrill et al 1983;Swanson et al 1984;Laatikainen & Syrdalen 1987).…”

“…This results in choroidal leakage and a serous retinal detachment in the area of the tear. The eventual reabsorption of the subretinal fluid may stem from atrophy and/or fibrosis of the underlying choriocapillaris (Doi et al 2000).…”