Focal parafoveal retinal telangiectasis.

We describe four patients, two of whom are sisters, with an unusual form of retinal telangiectasis. The vascular abnormality is localized to the temporal parafoveal retina and is virtually identical in appearance in every patient. Other characteristics include: both men and women are involved, both eyes are generally affected, and symptoms develop in middle life. Laser photocoagulation succeeds in improving the visual acuity in the treated eyes. The consistency of the appearance and location, and the familial tendency indicates these cases probably form a subgroup of retinal telangiectasis.