Clinical and pathologic studies on nanophthalmos complicated with uveal effusion

Jing Tao
NaiQing Weng
NingLi Wang
BoWen Zhao
Qian Liu

Background and Purpose: To investigate the clinical and pathologic features, and treatment of nanophthalmos complicated with uveal effusion. Methods: 50 eyes from 25 patients with nanophthalmos complicated with uveal effusion or/and angle-closure glaucoma were studied. The clinical and pathologic data, treatment and follow up results were analyzed retrospectively. 29 eyes with complication were treated by improved sclerectomy and sclerotomy, combined with laser peripheral iridectomy. Pathologic characters of the excised sclera were analyzed by immunohistochemical and electron microscopic examinations.

Results: Nanophthalmos is characterized with short ocular axial length and hyperpresbyopia, complicated with uveal effusion or/and angle-closure glaucoma during the progressive stage. The sclera was thicker than normal and the collagen fibril was swollen and disordered. Ciliochoroidal detachment disappeared soon after surgery, and detached retina became flat later on. Patients' visual acuity recovered well.

Conclusion: Nanophthalmos is congenital anomaly. The thick sclera and iris bombe seemed to be the basic pathophysiology of the complication of uveal effusion or/and angle-closure glaucoma. Improved sclerectomy and sclerotomy combined with laser peripheral iridectomy at early stage was an effective treatment for preventing and curing the complication of nanophthalmos.

This work was supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30700920), and a grant from Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Novel Star Program Foundation of China (No. 2005B50).

[Key words] nanophthalmos ; uveal effusion ; treatment; pathologic features