Fundus albipunctatus associated with macular atrophy. Comparison with typical fundus albipunctatus in terms of age

We previosly reported 5 patients with typical signs of fundus albipunctatus accompanied by bull's eye or similar macular lesions. Electrophysiological studies revealed that these patients had characteristics of both fundus albipunctatus and cone dystrophy. To determine whether they belong to a subtype of fundus albipunctatus or to an independent clinical entity, we compared their ages with those of typical cases of fundus albipunctatus without macular lesion at initial or last visit at our clinic. Between 1979 and 1993, 27 patients with fundus albipunctatus visited our clinic; 7 (26%) of them were accompanied by macular lesions. The cases without macular lesions ranged in age from 5 to 51 years (M = 18 years), while the 7 with macular lesions ranged from 36 to 54 years (M = 44 years). These results suggest the possible occurrence of macular lesions during the natural course of fundus albipunctatus.