Visual prognosis of posterior and combined persistent fetal vasculature.

INTRODUCTION: The persistent fetal vasculature refers to congenital anomalies of the globe resulting from the abnormal persistence of the hyaloid vascular system. It can present as anterior, posterior, or combined form. The aim of this study was to report the visual outcomes of posterior and combined forms of persistent fetal vasculature.

METHODS: This retrospective, single-center study included every patient referred to our outpatient clinic with a posterior or combined form of persistent fetal vasculature. The primary endpoint was the visual acuity of the impaired eye, or of the best eye if bilateral, at the end of follow-up.

RESULTS: In total, 18 eyes of 14 patients (10 males) were included. The combined form was the most prevalent (12 of 18 eyes), and 4 of 14 patients had bilateral impairment. The range of assessed visual acuity was from 20/2000 to 20/25. The best visual acuity in patients having undergone a surgical procedure was 20/63 (cataract extraction = 3, combined phacovitrectomy = 1). In patients who had been treated for amblyopia with patching, without surgery, the best visual acuity measured was 20/100 (5 patients). Among patients who had neither surgery nor patching therapy, there was one 63-year-old patient with a 20/25 visual acuity; the other ones had a low visual acuity of less than 20/200. All included eyes presented with nystagmus, amblyopia, and/or strabismus at the end of follow-up.

CONCLUSION: The posterior and combined forms of persistent fetal vasculature are of poor visual prognosis. The severe or occulting presentations require surgery to obtain the same visual outcomes as the moderate forms treated for amblyopia with patching therapy.