Multimodal imaging features of a spontaneously resolved unilateral congenital macrovessel-related macular edema in a 13-year-old boy

Purpose: Congenital retinal macrovessels (CRM) are large aberrant blood vessels that cross the horizontal raphe. Visual acuity may be negatively affected in cases afflicted with CRM due to macular serous detachment, hemorrhage, exudation, foveolar cyst formation and retinal artery occlusion. Even the presence of an anomalous vessel itself running through the foveal avascular zone may compromise the visual acuity. In this case report, we discuss the multimodal imaging characteristics of a case of symptomatic unilateral CRM-related cystoid macular edema and serous macular detachment in a 13-year-old boy. Observations: Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) imaging of the superficial retina revealed the aberrant vessel and anomalous arteriovenous communication between the aberrant vessel and the retinal artery. The foveal avascular zone also appeared partly distorted. Conclusions: The present case reports the second-youngest patient afflicted with unilateral CRM and associated macular edema. There was spontaneous resolution of macular edema within six weeks. In light of the observations in this case and the literature review, the need to refrain from rapid therapeutic intervention in the eyes of patients affected with CRM and macular edema must be emphasized.