An in vivo morphologic comparison of retinal neovascularization in sickle cell and diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To analyze the in vivo morphology of the sea fan in proliferative sickle cell retinopathy and compare it with the neovascularization in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

METHODS

Brief case report of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography imaging of a sea fan in a patient with sickle cell anemia and newly diagnosed proliferative sickle cell retinopathy, and morphologic comparison with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography imaging of a neovascular membrane in a diabetic patient with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

RESULTS

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography imaging revealed that the sea fan is a thicker caliber preretinal fibrovascular membrane involving primarily the retinal nerve fiber and ganglion cell layers. The diabetic membrane has more vitreous adhesions, and it is more closely intertwined with the retina, involving all the retinal layers down to the outer plexiform layer.

CONCLUSION

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography imaging identified important in vivo morphologic differences between neovascularization in proliferative sickle cell retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. These differences were consistent with previous histological studies and may explain the increased risk of tractional retinal detachment in patients with diabetes.