To report a case of serous macular detachment preceding macular retinoschisis in an optic pit patient success-fully treated by vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling.

A 76 year old female visited our clinic for visual disturbance in her right eye. Fundus photograph revealed optic pit and OCT showed macular retinoschisis in her right eye. She was followed up in our clinic. The patient revisited our clinic because of sudden decrease of visual acuity in her right eye 3 days before. At that time, the patient’s best-corrected visual acuity was 0.05. Macular retinoschisis, subretinal fluid and serous retinal detachment were observed in her right eye on OCT. She was diagnosed with serous retinal detachment associated with optic pit and pars plana vitrectomy was performed. During vitrectomy, we found adhesion and defect of posterior hyaloid membrane which covered the optic pit. Therefore, subretinal fluid was drained via membrane defect and posterior vitreous detachment and fluid-gas exchange were induced. Sixteen days after surgery, we found a macular hole in her right eye on OCT. Pars plana vitrectomy was performed with internal limiting membrane peeling. One month after surgery, macular detachment was not observed. Six months after surgery, the patient’s best corrected visual acuity was 0.63 and the macula was reattached completely.

Optic pit maculopathy can be progressed rapidly in aged patients and macular hole would be ocurred as a complication. Additional study will be needed to figure out the role of internal limiting membrane and tractional force of posterior vitreous in these patients.