Peripheral retinal neovascularization secondary to highly myopic superficial Retinoschisis: a case report

A 38-year-old highly myopic female presented with blurred vision and floaters in her right eye to the ophthalmology department in December, 2018. No ocular or systemic medication was reported. Her corrected visual acuity was 20/20 OU, and her refraction was − 9.00S OU. The anterior segments were normal in both eyes.

Dilated ophthalmoscopic examination revealed mild vitreous hemorrhage and abnormal vascular network nasal to the optic disc in her right eye. There were no pars plana exudates with snowbanking or inferior snowballs. Scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO) showed fine, tortuous inter-connecting vascular network in the superficial layer of the retina (Fig. 1a). Fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA) in her local hospital showed abnormal aneurysmal vessel network with obvious fluorescein leakage (Fig. 1b). Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)- angiography (OCTA) B-Scan showed superficial retinoschisis and well-depicted abnormal vessels in the inner retinal layer (Fig. 1d-g). Neither retinoschisis nor vascular abnormalities were detected in other quadrants. Her left eye was relatively normal in all the aforementioned examinations.

Sectoral scatter laser photocoagulation was administered since the retina was clearly visible and out of economic reasons. Color fundus photography was performed immediately (Fig. 1c). Regression of most abnormal vessels was confirmed by SLO in her second visit 1 month later (Fig. 2a), but an unexpected episode of vitreous hemorrhage obscuring the posterior pole was found 3 months later with her BCVA decreased to 20/40, which was absorbed spontaneously in 2 weeks and BCVA back to 20/20. OCTA B-Scan showed retinoschisis and the aneurysmal structure remained relatively stable despite regression of retinal microvascular abnormalities (Fig. 2c-d). Supplemental laser photocoagulation was applied and regular follow-up visit was suggested (Fig. 2b).

Peripheral vascular abnormalities often passed undiagnosed unless causing clinically significant symptoms, mostly related to vitreous hemorrhage due to rupture of retinal vessels [1]. In this case, the vitreous hemorrhage blurred the patient’s vision, and made it possible for a timely diagnosis.

Retinal microvascular abnormalities secondary to retinoschisis has been reported in some cases, especially in X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS), and often referred to as retinal neovascularization [4]. But these retinal changes are relatively less observed in myopic and primary retinoschisis [1]. The notion of ischemia-induced neovascularization is supported by cases of abnormal vessels distant from the lesions, such as iris [5] and optic disc [1]. Others reported cases of microvascular abnormalities with similar appearance to neovascularization, which were considered as compensation for the schitic process instead. Durkin et al. [3] reported a case of retinal microvascular abnormalities appearing to be “dilated capillary terminals” without fluorescein leakage secondary to myopic retinoschisis, and hypothesized that capillary remodeling occurred as the inner and outer retinal leafs separated, which may induce bleeding if the schitic cavity progressed more rapidly, mimicking leakage of neovascularization in FFA. Ong et al. [6] reported retinoschisis-related telangiectatic retinal vessels or retinal aneurysmal dilatations in the absence of capillary non-perfusion in OCTA, disputing ischemia-induced neovascularization. It remains debatable whether these abnormalities are vascular remodeling merely due to retinoschisis or related to ischemia-induced neovascularization, or somewhere in between.

In our case, we think ischemia plays a more significant role. Firstly, the abnormal vessels are very superficial depicted by OCTA, thus unlikely to be vessel remodeling bridging inner and outer schitic layers. Secondly, the hyperfluorescence in FFA is more likely to be leakage from vessel walls instead of discharging from ruptured vessel terminals. Lastly, a single sectoral laser wasn’t able to stabilize patient’s condition, resulting in recurrent vitreous hemorrhage. Specifically, we would like to stress the role of superficial retinoschisis in the initiation of neovascularization process. OCT images of similar cases were reviewed in myopic and primary retinoschisis in patients, and we found that the schisis mostly involved RNFL and/or GCL, with deeper layers involved in some cases [2, 3, 6] We hypothesized that ischemia is more prominent in superficial retinoschisis, as loss of blood supply due to tear of superficial capillary plexus (SCP) could render the inner retinal layer almost completely ischemic, which triggers a molecular cascade and subsequent retinal neovascularization elicited by vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF). Unfortunately, since the lesion was not at a routine location for our OCTA scan and the quality of FFA from her local hospital was not high enough to visualize non-perfusion area, we couldn’t rule out either retinoschisis-related vascular remodeling or ischemia-induced neovascularization.

Limitations of this report include the retrospective nature and small sample. Yet our case reinforces the necessity of a thorough examination in myopic patients. We reported and summarized retinal microvascular abnormalities, possibly neovascularization as a severe complication of superficial retinoschisis, which can be vision-threatening without timely and proper intervention.