Further Outpatient Care

Educating patients about the symptoms (eg, new-onset floaters, flashes, visual field defects) of a retinal tear or detachment is critical. The necessity of being examined on an emergent basis if symptoms of flashes or floaters occur should be stressed.

Complications

Complications are rare with laser retinal treatment, but epiretinal membrane, macular pucker, and/or retinal detachment may occur.^[18]

Prognosis

The prognosis is favorable.

Patient Education

Educating patients about the symptoms (eg, new-onset floaters, flashes, visual field defects) of a retinal tear or detachment is critical.

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Meguro A, Ideta H, Ota M, Ito N, Ideta R, Yonemoto J, et al. Common variants in the COL4A4 gene confer susceptibility to lattice degeneration of the retina. PLoS One. 2012. 7(6):e39300. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].
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Media Gallery

Example of a lattice lesion containing white crisscrossing wicker lines, which are seen in about 10% of lattice lesions. This lesion is complicated by an extensive retinal tear at the cuff of the lesion.
Another example of wicker lines seen within a lattice lesion. Prophylactic retinopexy has been performed around this lesion.
An example of a flap tear at the edge of a lattice lesion and three adjacent holes. This area of lattice degeneration has been barricaded by laser retinopexy.
A large horseshoe tear at the opposite edge of the lattice lesion pictured above. Laser retinopexy surrounds the tear and lattice lesion.
A peripheral lattice lesion demonstrating the typical snail-track appearance, with overlying vitreal opacities, which may represent glial proliferations or regions of increased vitreoretinal condensation.
An example of a heavily pigmented lattice lesion.
An acute rhegmatogenous retinal detachment that may be associated with lattice degeneration. (Lattice lesion not seen in this image.)
Another example of a peripheral lattice lesion with a snail-track appearance.
Lattice lesion containing small atrophic holes.
Radial perivascular chorioretinal degeneration with retinal tear at the margin. These lesions run along vessels and may be found in Wagner's and Stickler's disease.

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Author

Hemang K Pandya, MD, FACS Vitreoretinal Specialist, Dallas Retina Center; President, American Retina Forum

Hemang K Pandya, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Retina Specialists, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Michigan Society of Eye Physicians & Surgeons, Michigan State Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Ilya (Eli) M Sluch, MD Fellow in Cornea, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

Ilya (Eli) M Sluch, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Simon K Law, MD, PharmD Clinical Professor of Health Sciences, Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine

Simon K Law, MD, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, American Glaucoma Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Steve Charles, MD Founder and CEO of Charles Retina Institute; Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee College of Medicine

Disclosure: Received royalty and consulting fees for: Alcon Laboratories.

Chief Editor

Andrew A Dahl, MD, FACS Assistant Professor of Surgery (Ophthalmology), New York College of Medicine (NYCOM); Director of Residency Ophthalmology Training, The Institute for Family Health and Mid-Hudson Family Practice Residency Program; Staff Ophthalmologist, Telluride Medical Center

Andrew A Dahl, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, American Intraocular Lens Society, American Medical Association, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists, Medical Society of the State of New York, New York State Ophthalmological Society, Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

V Al Pakalnis, MD, PhD Professor of Ophthalmology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine; Chief of Ophthalmology, Dorn Veterans Affairs Medical Center

V Al Pakalnis, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, South Carolina Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Stanley M Saulny, MD Consulting Staff, Department of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology Associates of the Valley

Stanley M Saulny, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Medical Writers Association, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

David Sarraf, MD Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, Retinal Disorders and Ophthalmic Genetics Division, Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System

David Sarraf, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Alex Yuan, MD, PhD EyeSTAR Resident and Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute at University of California, Los Angeles

Alex Yuan, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

This review was partly supported by a Research to Prevent Blindness Grant #OP 31 for David Sarraf, MD.

Lattice Degeneration Follow-up

Further Outpatient Care

Complications

Prognosis

Patient Education

References

Tables

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