Angioid streaks

Angioid streaks are tiny breaks in the bruch's membrane, a thin layer that lies between the retina and the choroid. These streaks are visible during an eye examination and are often associated with certain medical conditions such as pseudoxanthoma elasticum, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Paget's disease of bone, and sickle cell disease.

Causes

Angioid streaks are caused by a break in the bruch's membrane, which can occur due to a variety of reasons. The most common cause is pseudoxanthoma elasticum, a genetic disorder that affects the skin, eyes, and cardiovascular system. Other causes include Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a group of disorders that affect the connective tissues supporting the skin, blood vessels, and many other organs and tissues; Paget's disease of bone, a chronic disorder that can result in enlarged and misshapen bones; and sickle cell disease, a group of disorders that affect hemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to cells throughout the body.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of angioid streaks is a decrease in visual acuity. This can be caused by choroidal neovascularization, where new blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak fluid and blood, leading to a loss of vision. Other symptoms can include metamorphopsia, where straight lines appear wavy, and scotoma, a spot or shadow in the visual field.

Diagnosis

Angioid streaks are diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination. This can include a visual acuity test, a dilated eye exam, and optical coherence tomography to get detailed images of the retina. In some cases, a fluorescein angiography may be performed to examine the blood vessels in the retina.

Treatment

There is currently no cure for angioid streaks. Treatment is focused on managing the symptoms and preventing further vision loss. This can include laser photocoagulation, a procedure that uses a laser to seal leaking blood vessels in the retina, and intravitreal injection of medications to slow the growth of new blood vessels.

See also

• Bruch's membrane
• Pseudoxanthoma elasticum
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Paget's disease of bone
• Sickle cell disease