Macular telangiectasia
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Idiopathic juxtafoveal perifoveal telangiectasia (Mactel) is a form of pathologically dilated blood vessels (telangiectasia) at the region of highest visual acuity, the yellow spot in the human eye (macula). The tissue deteriorates and the retinal structure becomes scarred due to the development of liquid filled cysts, which impairs nutrition of the photoreceptor cells and destroys vision permanently.
Mactel seems to be distinguishable from AMD (age-related macular degeneration by the involvement of different vasculature. In the latter case the choroidal (basal] vessel system is often altered, while in Mactel the retinal capillaries change shape before irreversible changes are taking place and destroy the photoreceptors.
Currently the origin of the disease is unknown and no treatment has been found to be effective to prevent further progress. Due to the fact the lost photoreceptors cannot be recovered, early diagnosis and treatment appear to be essential to prevent blindness. Several centers are currently trying to find new diagnostics and treatments to understand the causes and biochemical reactions in order to halt or counteract the adverse effects.
