What characteristic of Fibrovascular PEDs often leads to leakage and bleeding?

Fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs) are associated with conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and can lead to complications like leakage and bleeding. The correct choice highlights the lack of a blood-retina barrier, which is crucial in maintaining the structural integrity and proper functioning of the retina.

In healthy retinal tissue, the blood-retina barrier prevents the leakage of fluid, proteins, and other substances from the blood into the retinal space. However, in the case of fibrovascular PEDs, this barrier is compromised due to the abnormal growth of new blood vessels and the associated fibrovascular tissue. This lack of a protective barrier allows for the escape of serum and inflammatory cells, leading to edema and, ultimately, bleeding.

The condition results from the neovascularization that occurs beneath the retinal pigment epithelium, which disrupts normal architecture and function. The presence of these abnormal vessels not only facilitates leakage but also brings a higher risk for rupture, contributing to the clinical manifestation of exudative changes observed in patients with fibrovascular PEDs.