Photoreceptor inner and outer segment defects in myopic foveoschisis

PURPOSE: To evaluate pathologic features of the photoreceptors in myopic foveoschisis with the Fourier, domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT). DESIGN: Observational case series. METHODS: Seventeen eyes of 15 patients with myopic foveoschisis (foveal detachment type, six eyes; foveoschisis type, 11 eyes) were included. We observed the photoreceptor inner and outer segments (IS/OS) and evaluated the morphologic status using FD-OCT. Fundus photographs and time domain OCT (TD-OCT) images also were obtained. RESULTS: IS/OS defects, which are uncommon in retinal detachments in eyes with myopia, were seen clearly in five eyes (three eyes [50%] with the foveal detachment type; two eyes [18%] with the foveal schisis type). Fundus photographs showed myopic chorioretinal atrophy in eight study eyes (47%), including diffuse atrophy in four eyes (24%) and patchy atrophy in four eyes (24%). The IS/OS defects on FD-OCT were accompanied by myopic chorioretinal atrophy in three (60%) of five eyes. CONCLUSIONS: FD-OCT enables observation of more detailed retinal structures in these myopic eyes. The IS/OS defects may be specific to, but are not rare, in myopic foveoschisis and may predict the postoperative visual recovery.