Staphyloma is the term given to an eye whose scleral-uveal coats are stretched with uveal protrusion. This most commonly occurs posteriorly, although anterior staphyloma also is recognized. As opposed to coloboma, staphyloma defect is located off-center from the optic disc, typically temporal to the disc.
Clinical presentation
Patients often present with severe axial myopia .
Pathology
It is an acquired defect secondary to weakness and thinning of the scleral-uveal coats .
Posterior staphyloma
- progressive myopia (or mega myope) is the most common cause
- glaucoma
- scleritis
- necrotizing infection
- surgery/trauma
- radiotherapy
Anterior staphyloma
Seen secondary to inflammation or infection of the sclero-corneal lining of the eye.
Radiographic features - increased eye size
- focal deformity (not as marked as coloboma), usually posterior
- non-enhancing uveo-sclera
Differential diagnosis - buphthalmos or macrophthalmos: congenital glaucoma, neurofibromatosis type 1(NF1)
- axial myopia
- coloboma.