Incidental Unilateral Macular Lesions in Children

Abstract

Background: This study aims to examine the rare entity of unilateral macular lesions in the pediatric population and describe the distinct diagnoses and characterizations related to these findings. Methods: A retrospective cohort design. The database of the ophthalmology clinic in a tertiary medical center was reviewed to identify all children with incidental unilateral macular findings, examined during 2016 through 2021. Results: Twenty children were included. Mean age was 7.8 ± 3.4 years, 50% were girls. The most common macular lesion was torpedo maculopathy (50%), followed by pigmentary changes (25%), discoid maculopathy (15%), macular scar and combined hamartoma of the retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) (5% each). None of the lesions changed after a mean follow-up duration of 2.3 ± 1.5 years. Visual acuity in the involved eye was equal to that in the contralateral eye in 90% of patients and did not change from initial to final visit. Conclusion: Incidental unilateral macular lesions in the pediatric population are usually benign, stable, and do not affect vision. Long-term follow-up is advised, as vision-threatening alterations may appear. [ Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2023;54:346–352.]