What is Juxtafoveal telangiectasia?

A condition that is characterized by exudation or diffusion abnormalities from ectatic (dilated and tortuous blood vessels) and incompetent retinal capillaries in the juxtafoveolar region. Can be found as a developmental or congenital vascular anomaly or an acquired condition.

What causes macular telangiectasia?

Macular telangiectasia (MacTel) is a disease that affects the macula, causing central vision loss. It’s caused by abnormal blood vessels around the fovea. The fovea is the centre of the macula and is used for detailed central vision. There are two main types of macular telangiectasia – type 1 and type 2.

Does macular telangiectasia cause blindness?

MacTel type 2 usually does not cause total blindness, but vision loss can significantly impact the quality of life. There are some reports about several affected members in the same family.

What does Juxtafoveal mean?

Juxta means adjacent, thus juxtafoveal means adjacent to the fovea. Telangiectasia is a medical term that means dilated, thickened, and abnormally bent.

Is macular telangiectasia the same as macular degeneration?

MacTel is sometimes mistaken for age-related macular degeneration, due to similar patterns of neovascularization in both diseases. MacTel is a bilateral disease. Fellow eyes are usually similarly affected by the disease, showing the same pathological features.

How common is macular telangiectasia?

Epidemiology. MacTel is a bilateral disease that usually begins to affect patients between the ages of 40 and 60 years. The prevalence of MacTel is estimated to be 0.022% to 0.1%, based on assessment of fundus photographs from large population-based studies.

Does telangiectasia blanch?

When slight pressure is applied, telangiectases blanch, then quickly refill when the pressure is released. This distinguishes telangiectases from a petechia and an angiokeratoma, which do not blanch, and a cherry angioma, which at best may blanch minimally.

What telangiectasia looks like?

Telangiectasias (commonly known as “spider veins”) are dilated or broken blood vessels located near the surface of the skin or mucous membranes. They often appear as fine pink or red lines, which temporarily whiten when pressed.

Can you get rid of Telangiectasias?

There is no cure for telangiectasia, but the condition is treatable. Doctors will often devise a treatment plan based on the results of diagnostic tests. For example, if acne or rosacea is the underlying cause, the doctor may prescribe an oral or topical antibiotic.

What is a sclerodactyly?

The most classic symptom of scleroderma is a type of skin tightening called sclerodactyly. The initial stages of the disease involves swelling of the fingers. Later, as the connective tissue becomes fibrotic, skin on the fingers and toes becomes hard and shiny.