Hidden retinal issues detected by OCT in patients with normal fundoscopic exams

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is crucial for detecting retinal pathologies that may not be visible through standard biomicroscopic fundus examinations, according to a study.

Despite normal findings in traditional eye exams, OCT can reveal hidden retinal issues, particularly in older patients.

In this retrospective study, routine examinations were performed on 271 eyes from 271 patients who were recommended for cataract surgery.

Overall, 14.0% of patients exhibited retinal pathologies on OCT despite normal fundoscopic examination results. Specific pathologies identified included epiretinal membranes (39.4%), age-related macular degeneration (26.3%), vitreomacular traction (21%), lamellar macular holes (5.2%), and rare cases of full-thickness macular holes, intraretinal cysts, and photoreceptor layer damage (2.6% each). Most affected patients were over 70 years old (78.9%).

Reference
Icoz M, Gurturk Icoz SG. Importance of optical coherence tomography before cataract surgery. BMC Ophthalmol. 2024;24(1):339. doi: 10.1186/s12886-024-03622-3. PMID: 39135029.