CASE SERIES OF PROGRESSIVE RETINAL DETACHMENTS IN PERSISTENT FETAL VASCULATURE.

Purpose: Persistent fetal vasculature may be associated with tractional retinal detachment due to tractional contraction of the fibrovascular stalk. Persistent fetal vasculature is often believed to be congenital and nonprogressive. A rhegmatogenous component is far less common and is typically identified as a postoperative complication and has not been spontaneously reported. The authors present five cases illustrating potential progressive changes and complications that may arise in nonoperated persistent fetal vasculature.

Methods: This was a retrospective case series of five patients who presented with progressive retinal detachments from persistent fetal vasculature.

Results: Five unique cases of persistent fetal vasculature with significant progression from time of initial presentation, four of which included development of rhegmatogenous components.

Conclusion: Patients with persistent fetal vasculature and a seemingly stable tractional detachment should undergo evaluation with a retinal specialist for risk stratification and management because rhegmatogenous detachments may occur due to ocular growth and stretch breaks, and tractional detachments can continue to progress over time.