A. Pece

Eight-year follow-up of central serous chorioretinopathy with and without laser treatment

A long-term retrospective study was conducted on two groups of patients affected with typical central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). One group was not treated and the other was treated by direct argon laser photocoagulation. CSCR shows a long-term good prognosis of visual acuity. The visual acuity of laser-treated eyes improves significantly (P ≤ 0.05), particularly in single focus cases (P ≤ 0.01). Unfortunately, these results cannot be statistically compared to the natural course of the non-treated patients because of the initial inhomogeneity of the two groups. Laser treatment did not produce any long-term complications. The recurrence rate in treated and untreated eyes was similar.

Laser photocoagulation of choroidal neovascularization in pathologic myopia: long-term results

Direct laser photocoagulation of macular choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in pathologic myopia is still controversial. However, previous studies have reported encouraging results. One-hundred and thirty-three consecutively treated eyes were followed, in a prospective manner, for at least 12 months (108 of these were followed for 24 months, 84 for 36 months, 63 for 48 months, and 47 for 60 months) to evaluate the potential benefits and complications of laser treatment of extra-foveal macular CNV in pathologically myopic eyes. Pre-treatment mean visual acuity was 0.36. Post-treatment mean visual acuity was 0.33 at 1-year examination, 0.31 at 2 years, 0.32 at 3 years, 0.34 at 4 years, and 0.33 at 5 years. During the total follow-up period mean visual acuity did not change. Neovascular recurrences occurred in 58% of treated eyes by the end of the five-year follow-up. At final examination, complete destruction of CNV was achieved in 100 eyes (75%). These findings suggest that laser photocoagulation of macular choroidal neovascularization in pathologic myopia may be effective in preventing or limiting severe and irreversible loss of vision.

Echographic Diagnosis of Drusen of the Optic Nerve Head in Patients with Angioid Streaks

A total of 58 patients (116 eyes) with angioid streaks, referred to this department over 2 years (1990-1992), underwent a thorough ophthalmic examination, retinal fluorescein angiography, dermatological visit with skin biopsy, and a series of other examinations (blood and biochemistry, skull X-ray, vascular echo Doppler, abdominal ultrasound) and eye ultrasonography. Fifty patients (100 eyes, 86.2%) had pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE). In the whole caselist, 21.6% had drusen compared with 21.0% in the group with PXE. Both these findings are higher than those published elsewhere. Drusen of the optic nerve head were also found in 25% of the 16 eyes (8 patients) with angioid streaks but no PXE. We believe we found a higher prevalence of drusen of the optic nerve head in these patients with angioid streaks because we systematically employed ultrasound.

Updating on intraoperative light-induced retinal injury

We are presenting the state of knowledge concerning intraoperative light-induced retinal injury, considered to be a combination of photic retinopathy and retinal photocoagulation. It may arise from retinal light exposure to the operating microscope or to the fiberoptic endoilluminator. Ultraviolet and short-wavelength visible light are more dangerous than longer wavelength light. Many risk factors may facilitate the onset of this iatrogenic disease following surgery. Many aspects of the retinal damage are still poorly understood. Many mild light-induced retinal injuries probably remain undiagnosed in routine postoperative examination. Current appropriate light filters are not the definitive solution. Appropriate precautions should be taken during both anterior segment and vitreoretinal surgery.

Indocyanine green angiography in enlarged blind spot syndrome.

PURPOSE To report the indocyanine green angiography findings in a case of acute idiopathic blind spot enlargement syndrome. METHOD The patient underwent ophthalmologic examination with fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography. RESULTS A monocular enlarged blind spot was found on automated perimetry; fluorescein angiography showed a hypofluorescent peripapillary atrophic area and indocyanine green angiography highlighted diffuse, small hypofluorescent spots scattered throughout the posterior pole. Visual field defects and indocyanine green angiography abnormalities resolved over 4 weeks. CONCLUSION Indocyanine green angiography in acute idiopathic blind spot enlargement syndrome showed many lesions not visible with fluorescein angiography, indicating a choroidal involvement reaching not only the peripapillary area but the entire posterior pole.

Laser Treatment of Macular Subretinal Neovascularizations in Angioid Streaks

A serous hemorrhagic maculopathy with a subretinal neovascular membrane appears in about 70% of cases of angioid streaks. In this study a series of 60 eyes (31 patients) was reviewed. In 13 eyes macular subretinal neovascularizations were photocoagulated with blue-green argon laser, green argon laser, dye laser (rhodamine 6G) at 590 nm and red krypton laser. The authors present and discuss the results obtained and suggest that photocoagulation of subretinal new vessels not involving the fovea can be worth performing.

Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) in pathological myopia.

One hundred and fifty patients (300 eyes), mean age 49±15 years, with degenerative myopia underwent fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). Fluorescence of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) on ICGA was less evident than with fluorescein angiography (FA). FA revealed CNV in 98 eyes; ICGA showed CNV with different angiographic patterns in 82 eyes. ICGA permitted CNV diagnosis when retinal hemorrhages were present. ICGA allowed a more precise evaluation of lacquer cracks which appeared more numerous than the ones identified by FA. ICGA visualized the retrobulbar vasculature. This study shows that ICGA has a useful role for diagnosing and managing pathological myopia.

Dye laser photocoagulation of macular subretinal neovascularization in pathological myopia

The authors present a randomized study of 27 eyes affected by pathological myopia with macular subretinal neovascularization which were treated with a tunable dye laser. The effectiveness of three different wavelengths (577, 590 and 620 nm) in the direct treatment of subretinal neovascularizations was evaluated in 3 groups of 9 patients each.Statistical analysis of both visual and anatomical results did not show significant differences among the three wavelengths used.

Indocyanine green angiography in age-related macular degeneration with occult neovascularization

This study has been conducted to assess the sensitivity of indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) in detecting choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) with occult CNV at fluorescein angiography (FA) and to establish their eligibility for laser photocoagulation. Three hundred eighty-three eyes of 355 consecutive patients with occult CNV at FA were studied by ICGA; occult CNV with or without pigment epithelial detachment (PED) were detected as well. Eligibility for laser treatment was established on the basis of the ICGA-guided CNV extension and localization. Out of 157 eyes (41%) with occult CNV and PED, 74 (47.1%) showed focal ICGA CNV, 35 eyes (22.3%) had plaque CNV. Thirty-five eyes with PED (22.3%) appeared serous without CNV, and in 13 eyes (8.3%) no CNV was detectable because of large hemorrhages. Out of the 226 eyes (59%) presenting occult CNV without PED, 94 eyes (41.6%) had plaque CNV, and 58 (25.7%) had focal CNV. In 74 eyes (32.7%), there was no detectable CNV or only an ill-defined ICGA appearance. ARMD with PED is closely associated with focal CNV, while plaque CNV is largely found in exudative ARMD without PED (p < 0.001). Considering all the cases examined by ICGA, CNV was evident in 261 eyes (68%) occult at FA. Extrafoveal CNV laser treatment was recommended for 103 eyes (27%). Our results suggest that ICGA may be useful in the diagnosis and management of ARMD with occult CNV at FA increasing the number of patients eligible for laser treatment.

Indocyanine green and fluorescein angiography of surgically excised macular choroidal neovascularizations: correlations with histopathologic and ultrastructural findings

Abstract• Background: Informations are expected from the histopathological study of surgically excised choroidal neovascular membranes (CNMs), particularly in relation to the angiographic aspects of vascular architecture.• Methods: Fluorescein and indocyanine green (ICG) angiograms were studied together with the histopathological features of 12 surgically excised subfoveal CNMs in eyes affected by age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).• Results: Instead of the early and delayed diffuse hyperfluorescence secondary to CNMs observed on fluorescein angiography (seven were well defined, five scar evolved), ICG revealed (a) very early hypofluorescence of the membrane bulk over the fluorescence of the outer choroidal vascular bed and (b) late hyperfluorescence gradually increasing and partially defining the border of membranes. CNMs with well-defined hyperfluorescent aspects were characterized by fibrovascular bulk lined on one side by retinal pigment epithelium. Fibrosis reaction predominated over the vascular components in scar-evolved membranes.• Conclusions: Fluorescein and ICG angiographic differences in the appearance of CNMs could depend on (a) the morphological structure and size of the CNM (b) its location within the chorioretinal layers and (c) different molecular characteristics of the dyes used.