[Idiopathic macular telangiectasia - follow-up with and without laser photocoagulation].

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of laser photocoagulation for idiopathic macular telangiectasia (IMT) by using the revised and simplified classification of Yannuzzi 2006.

Patients And Methods: The Yannuzzi classification was used for a retrospective analysis of the medical records of all patients with idiopathic macular telangiectasia as diagnosed consecutively in the University Eye Clinic of Mainz in the time period from 1 / 02 to 12 / 06. Laser treatment was indicated only in those eyes which presented with a visual acuity below 10 / 20 (follow-up interval in median 37 months, minimum 13 months).

Results: 12 patients with unilateral macular telangiectasia (IMT type I) and 30 patients with bilateral macular telangiectasia (IMT type II) were recruited. In type I disease 9 / 12 patients were male with an average age of 41 years (range: 28 to 47). 10 / 12 eyes showed macular oedema. After focal laser photocoagulation in 6 / 10 eyes the macular oedema decreased in 4 / 6 eyes and visual acuity improved in 3 / 6 eyes. In type II disease 17 / 30 patients were male and the average age was 56 years (range: 45 to 63). All 60 eyes showed macular oedema. In 40 eyes, which did not receive a laser photocoagulation, the ocular findings did not change during the follow-up examinations. In 16 / 20 eyes the macular oedema has successfully been reduced by laser photocoagulation, however without significant visual improvement. In 2 of these 16 treated eyes the development of a subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation with central loss of vision was noted.

Conclusions: In IMT type I laser photocoagulation was able to achieve a visual improvement. In IMT type II, however, a laser photocoagulation indication should be considered very carefully because in this group no visual improvement was reached and a secondary induction of subretinal neovascular membranes seems likely.