Retinal - Macular Disorders

Juxtafoveal Telangiectasis (MacTel)

by Scott Pautler, MD

What is juxtafoveal telangiectasis (JFT)?
Juxtafoveal telangiectasis is a rare disorder of the tiny blood vessels located in the center of the retina. The retina in your eye is like the film inside a camera. The retina “takes the picture” of objects you look at and sends the message to the brain. The fovea is the central portion of the retina that is responsible for sharp reading vision. In JFT the tiny foveal blood vessels become irregular and dilated for unknown reasons. They may leak blood or clear fluid into the fovea.

Who is at risk for developing juxtafoveal telangiectasis?
Juxtafoveal telangiectasis is usually found in males and females during their 5th to 8th decade of life. It may occur in as many as one in every 1,000 persons. JFT is associated with diabetes, high blood pressure, and tobacco use, but the exact cause had not been determined.

What are the symptoms of juxtafoveal telangiectasis?
Blurring of vision may occur if excess fluid (edema) leaks into the center of the retina. Distortion of vision may also make reading or seeing small details difficult. Distortion is when straight lines appear wavy or crooked. The vision usually remains fairly stable with occasional mild fluctuation from day to day. If sudden loss of vision or increased distortion occurs, your doctor should be notified.

What treatment is available?
There is no cure, but treatment may improve vision or keep the vision from worsening in certain instances. No specific treatment may be recommended if the symptoms are mild. Laser and medicine injections help selected patients. Laser may improve the vision, but rarely will the vision return to normal.
Your doctor is going to order appropriate tests and recommend the best course of action to take at this time. Physical activity and use of your eyes will not worsen juxtafoveal telangiectasis. Magnification may help with reading. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.