Evaluation of a partial retinal surface tear by optical coherence tomography

Abstract

Differential diagnosis of retinal hemorrhage and partial tear of the retinal surface may be difficult in some cases. A 62-year-old woman was mistakenly followed-up for small retinal hemorrhages for more than 1 year. Blocked fluorescence specific to retinal hemorrhage was not observed by fluorescein angiography (FAG). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) clearly showed defects of the retinal surface indicating partial tears of the surface at the vitreo-retinal juncture and not hemorrhage. OCT is a useful and noninvasive device for the differential diagnosis of retinal hemorrhage and partial tear of the retinal surface. © 2011 Kawazoe et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd.