A physical sign of pathological myopia: myopic scleral pit

PURPOSE: Myopic scleral pit (MSP) is a rare physical sign of pathological myopia (PM). The aim of this study was to summarize the clinical characteristics of MSP and analyze its correlation with PM. METHODS: Eight cases with PM and MSP were enrolled in this study. Comprehensive ophthalmic examinations, including subjective refraction, slit-lamp biomicroscope, intraocular pressure, fundus photographs, A- and B-scan ultrasonography and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, were performed. RESULTS: All the patients had a long history of PM with visual impairment, long axial length, and myopia-related fundus degeneration. Mean axial length was 31.48 ± 2.17 mm. Mean size of MSP was 0.69 ± 0.29 optic disc diameter (PD). Mean logMAR BCVA was 1.21 ± 0.88 logMAR. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the logMAR BCVA had no correlation with the size of pits (P = 0.34). Fundus examination revealed a focal pale concave located in the sclera exposed area of retinal choroid atrophy was found in all cases. OCT showed a deep scleral pit where the retinal choroid was thin or absent, without retinal sensory detachment or sensory defect. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified a rare scleral lesion in all eight individuals with PM, which was termed “myopic scleral pit”. This phenomenon is different from focal choroidal excavation and posterior staphyloma.