Persistent fetal vasculature

Abstract

Objective: To report a case of persistent fetal vasculature (PFV) and to highlight the importance of early diagnosis and treatment when in presence of infancy leucocoria.
Case report: A 15 months old child, who had previously been seen by another ophthalmologist was brought to examination with a diagnosis of congenital cataract in the right eye. A complete ophthalmological examination was made from which we discovered microphthalmia, leucocoria, and strabismus. A second exam under general anesthesia was performed, in which we observed the presence of a shallow anterior chamber, a partially reabsorbed cataract, and a retrolental fibrovascular mass associated with elongated ciliary processes. Due to a late diagnosis and in the presence of a deeply amplyopic eye, it was decided to follow a conservative treatment and no surgical intervention was performed.
Conclusion: It is extremely important to perform a complete ophthalmological exam both at the office and under general anesthesia on infants with leucocoria, aiming to get an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment in order to avoid the development of profound and irreversible amblyopia and future complications.

Key words: persistent fetal vasculature, persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous, leukocoria.