Management of PXE

3 February 2025
Winter 2025

Sean Matthews Mackie FCOptom discusses a case of the rare systemic disorder PXE, which can put patients at higher risk of vascular disease and choroidal neovascularisation, and is diagnosed in part through retinal examination.

Presentation

A 24-year-old female patient attended our practice in September 2024. She had booked a routine eye examination, reporting that she felt her vision was a little worse. She has long-standing, very occasional photopsia, which is worse on waking and stable. She does not see floaters.

Case history

She had lost her spectacles, which were a few years old, although she had stopped wearing them.

RE: unaided vision 6/6, refraction: +0.25/-0.25 × 155 VA 6/6

LE: unaided vision 6/6, refraction: +0.25/-0.25 × 180 VA 6/6

Binocular near unaided vision: N4 @40cm

Medical history

  • General health: good. Non-atopic.
  • Medication: contraceptive pill.
  • Previous ocular history: first attended our practice in 2014 with no previous ocular history.
  • Family medical history: none on maternal side. Paternal family history not known, as father adopted.

Sign in to continue

Forgotten password?
Register

Not already a member of the College?

Start enjoying the benefits of College membership today. Take a look at what the College can offer you and view our membership categories and rates.

Related further reading

The College, The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) and the Federation of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians (FODO) back the Government’s commitment to put patients in the driving seat and give them more control and choice over their care.

One thing is certain: I wasn’t expecting the events of the last 10 weeks to take place when I wrote my last Optometry in Practice editorial in February this year.

We are asking the public to make eye health a priority in 2025 and provide top tips for good eye health.