Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Is The Absence Of Foveal Pit Mentioned In A Macular Cube Scan Report Worrisome?
Question: I had a 'Macular Cube' Picture taken of my eyes. The picture of my left eye says "fovea not found" at the top. What does this mean??
Also, does this picture show anything that would explain my major eye loss after the surgery and recovery?
I thought I would add a few more details. During my wife's surgery to repair the 'wrinkle' she was given a local anesthetic, so she was awake during the procedure. She remembers the surgeon pushing her head back (as if it had moved). After the procedure, she was informed that along with the surgeon's repairing the 'wrinkle', a retinal tear had occurred in a different area of the retina, which he had repaired. He stated that he had put in a 'gas bubble' - she recalls that he had asked one of the nurses for a C3F8 Bubble.
My wife followed all the directions given for rest, how to lie on her side, medications, etc. At the last appointment, when my wife's eyesight was tested and the macula cube pictures were taken, the technician said that her vision in her left eye was now 20/400. Also, her vision in her left eye is now substantially reduced; for example, if she looks at an orange tree filled with oranges or a flower box filled with flowers, she can see only a few of the flowers or oranges, and cannot tell that there are leaves on most of the orange tree. Naturally, she is afraid that her vision loss in her left eye may be permanent, but has no idea why.
Also, does this picture show anything that would explain my major eye loss after the surgery and recovery?
I thought I would add a few more details. During my wife's surgery to repair the 'wrinkle' she was given a local anesthetic, so she was awake during the procedure. She remembers the surgeon pushing her head back (as if it had moved). After the procedure, she was informed that along with the surgeon's repairing the 'wrinkle', a retinal tear had occurred in a different area of the retina, which he had repaired. He stated that he had put in a 'gas bubble' - she recalls that he had asked one of the nurses for a C3F8 Bubble.
My wife followed all the directions given for rest, how to lie on her side, medications, etc. At the last appointment, when my wife's eyesight was tested and the macula cube pictures were taken, the technician said that her vision in her left eye was now 20/400. Also, her vision in her left eye is now substantially reduced; for example, if she looks at an orange tree filled with oranges or a flower box filled with flowers, she can see only a few of the flowers or oranges, and cannot tell that there are leaves on most of the orange tree. Naturally, she is afraid that her vision loss in her left eye may be permanent, but has no idea why.
Brief Answer:
Seen report.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
The fovea centralis is a small, central pit composed of closely packed cones in the eye. It is located in the center of the macula lutea of the retina. Only in the fovea are the layers of the retina spread aside to let the light fall directly on the cones, the cells that give the sharpest image. Also called the central fovea or fovea centralis.
Consult a retinal specialist for surgery of this area to arrest any loss of vision.
At this area of sharpest vision is absent she can't see all oranges or flower.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Ramesh Kumar, Ophthalmologist
Seen report.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
The fovea centralis is a small, central pit composed of closely packed cones in the eye. It is located in the center of the macula lutea of the retina. Only in the fovea are the layers of the retina spread aside to let the light fall directly on the cones, the cells that give the sharpest image. Also called the central fovea or fovea centralis.
Consult a retinal specialist for surgery of this area to arrest any loss of vision.
At this area of sharpest vision is absent she can't see all oranges or flower.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Ramesh Kumar, Ophthalmologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Dr. XXXXXXX
Thank you for your response. However, your answer deals mainly with giving a definition of the Fovea Centralis. My question had to do with the words "FOVEA NOT FOUND" on the top part of the Macular Change: Macular Cube 512 x 128 Exams of the Left Eye performed on 1 March and 23 March.
I need to know the following concerns:
1. Do the words "FOVEA NOT FOUND", along with the exam pictures, mean that the Fovea of the Left Eye was either somehow destroyed or damaged during the surgery to repair the 'retinal wrinkle' or tear in the retina that occurred during the surgery?
2. If the Fovea was destroyed or damaged during the surgery, is it possible to repair it (my wife's left eye vision was 20/50 before surgery; it is now 20/400. Your answer focused only on "arresting any loss of vision" and did not address repair or improvement;
3. I do not understand your statement - "At this area of sharpest vision is absent she can't see all oranges or flower." What does this mean?; and
4. Does this picture show anything that would explain my wife's major eye loss (from 20/50 to 20/400) after the surgery?
The main reason I am using your is that we are getting only vague information from the retinal specialist she was seeing.
Please expand upon your prior responses so we can have a clearer idea what options we have.
Thank you again
Thank you for your response. However, your answer deals mainly with giving a definition of the Fovea Centralis. My question had to do with the words "FOVEA NOT FOUND" on the top part of the Macular Change: Macular Cube 512 x 128 Exams of the Left Eye performed on 1 March and 23 March.
I need to know the following concerns:
1. Do the words "FOVEA NOT FOUND", along with the exam pictures, mean that the Fovea of the Left Eye was either somehow destroyed or damaged during the surgery to repair the 'retinal wrinkle' or tear in the retina that occurred during the surgery?
2. If the Fovea was destroyed or damaged during the surgery, is it possible to repair it (my wife's left eye vision was 20/50 before surgery; it is now 20/400. Your answer focused only on "arresting any loss of vision" and did not address repair or improvement;
3. I do not understand your statement - "At this area of sharpest vision is absent she can't see all oranges or flower." What does this mean?; and
4. Does this picture show anything that would explain my wife's major eye loss (from 20/50 to 20/400) after the surgery?
The main reason I am using your is that we are getting only vague information from the retinal specialist she was seeing.
Please expand upon your prior responses so we can have a clearer idea what options we have.
Thank you again
Brief Answer:
Reply to patients follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
1) It is difficult to comment on the fovea absent part. It can be anything - may be absent from birth; may be a congenital abnormality; maybe malformation of fovea during gestation. No one in this world can answer since when and how the fovea became absent.
2) Repair etc is only theoretically possible. Frankly speaking, the target should be to save the vision first. You can read lots of stuff on google, but in practice, no one performs such operation or are just experimental cases.
3) For example, if she looks at an orange tree filled with oranges or a flower box filled with flowers, she can see only a few flowers or oranges, and cannot tell that there are leaves on most of the orange tree - Most of the cones are not there in the retinal layer - she may have difficulty in forming a sharp 3d image. For example, if a person has only 50% of his heart working can he do wrestling? definitely not but yes he could walk.
4) As informed in my first point, based on the absence of fovea, I cannot relate/explain the vision loss following surgery.
Sir every one is going to provide you with vague information as these are all grey areas of medical sciences. Either most of the surgeries are not performed or are under theoretical or lab processes. The retina itself is one of the most complex parts of the eye. And in the retina, if only the fovea is absent, a doctor can explain whats there in books. When these things are not treatable as per books we ophthalmologist have very little scope to help you.
Frankly speaking, what doctors can do is to try to save vision thats it.
You may feel bad but this is a harsh reality.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards,
Dr. Ramesh Kumar, Ophthalmologist
Reply to patients follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
1) It is difficult to comment on the fovea absent part. It can be anything - may be absent from birth; may be a congenital abnormality; maybe malformation of fovea during gestation. No one in this world can answer since when and how the fovea became absent.
2) Repair etc is only theoretically possible. Frankly speaking, the target should be to save the vision first. You can read lots of stuff on google, but in practice, no one performs such operation or are just experimental cases.
3) For example, if she looks at an orange tree filled with oranges or a flower box filled with flowers, she can see only a few flowers or oranges, and cannot tell that there are leaves on most of the orange tree - Most of the cones are not there in the retinal layer - she may have difficulty in forming a sharp 3d image. For example, if a person has only 50% of his heart working can he do wrestling? definitely not but yes he could walk.
4) As informed in my first point, based on the absence of fovea, I cannot relate/explain the vision loss following surgery.
Sir every one is going to provide you with vague information as these are all grey areas of medical sciences. Either most of the surgeries are not performed or are under theoretical or lab processes. The retina itself is one of the most complex parts of the eye. And in the retina, if only the fovea is absent, a doctor can explain whats there in books. When these things are not treatable as per books we ophthalmologist have very little scope to help you.
Frankly speaking, what doctors can do is to try to save vision thats it.
You may feel bad but this is a harsh reality.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards,
Dr. Ramesh Kumar, Ophthalmologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
