Purpose: To report cases of spontaneous retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tear complicating serous pigment epithelial detachment (PED).
Methods: The records of 3 Asian patients with spontaneous giant RPE tear were reviewed retrospectively by including clinical presentation, angiography, optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence imaging, and visual outcome.
Results: Three patients (4 eyes) were included in this study, with a mean age of 48.3 (42-56) years, and a mean follow-up period of 7.75 (4-18) months. Fundus examination in all patients showed giant RPE tear associated with bullous PED. Two cases had a history of prior corticosteroid use, and 1 had no history of medication use. All 3 patients developed spontaneous resolution of subretinal fluid with no treatment. However, in patients who used corticosteroids, initial progression of the tear and subretinal fluid were observed despite ceasing medication. On subsequent follow-up, an incomplete RPE regeneration was demonstrated by fundus autofluorescence imaging, and choroidal neovascularization developed in 1 patient.
Conclusion: Large PED with RPE tear is a rare manifestation. When the fovea is spared, visual prognosis is favorable. No specific treatment is required, but careful choroidal neovascularization monitoring should be performed.
Keywords: Pigment epithelial detachment; Retinal pigment epithelial rip; Retinal pigment epithelial tear.