Spotlight on reticular pseudodrusen

Abstract

Alessandro Rabiolo,1 Riccardo Sacconi,1,2 Maria Vittoria Cicinelli,1 Lea Querques,1,3 Francesco Bandello,1 Giuseppe Querques1 1Department of Ophthalmology, University Vita-Salute, IRCCS San Raffaele, Milan, 2Eye Clinic, Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, 3G. B. Bietti Foundation-IRCCS, Rome, Italy Abstract: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in patients >50 years old. The hallmark of the disease is represented by the accumulation of extracellular material between retinal pigment epithelium and the inner collagenous layer of Bruch’s membrane, called drusen. Although identified almost 30 years ago, reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) have been recently recognized as a distinctive phenotype. Unlike drusen, they are located in the subretinal space. RPD are strongly associated with late AMD, especially geographic atrophy, type 2 and 3 choroidal neovascularization, which, in turn, are less common in typical AMD. RPD identification is not straightforward at fundus examination, and their identification should employ at least 2 different imaging modalities. In this narrative review, we embrace all aspects of RPD, including history, epidemiology, histology, imaging, functional test, natural history and therapy. Keywords: age-related macular degeneration, choroidal neovascularization, geographic atrophy, reticular macular degeneration, reticular drusen, reticular macular disease, reticular pseudodrusen, subretinal drusenoid deposit

Keywords

• age-related macular degeneration
• choroidal neovascularization
• geographic atrophy
• reticular macular degeneration
• reticular drusen
• reticular macular disease
• reticular pseudodrusen
• subretinal drusenoid deposit