Complete retinal pigment epithelium and outer retinal atrophy: Is it really an end-stage atrophy?

Abstract

Geographic atrophy (GA), a late manifestation of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), leads to irreversible vision loss. Early identification of precursor lesions, such as incomplete and complete retinal pigment epithelium and outer retinal atrophy (iRORA and cRORA), is crucial for predicting GA formation. The latter stage has been associated with irreversible and progressive changes, and the eventual development of a dense scotoma on the compromised area. We present an 80-year-old woman with AMD in both eyes, demonstrating progressive changes over a 2-year follow-up. While the right eye developed cRORA with vision decline, the left eye exhibited unexpected restoration of the outer retinal layers within the cRORA lesion. This finding challenges the notion of “end-stage atrophy” in GA development and highlights the potential reversibility of early atrophic lesions. Recognizing these dynamics has implications for the development of targeted therapies aimed at preserving vision in AMD's early stages.