Changes of Choroidal Perfusion in Indocyanine Green Angiography After Photodynamic Therapy for Choroidal Neovascularization

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes of choroidal perfusion after photodynamic therapy (PDT) documented by indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and in pretreatment and posttreatment variables in patients with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and myopia (M). METHODS: Eight eyes (seven patients) with CNV in M (Group 1) and 30 eyes (29 patients) with CNV in AMD (Group 2) were included among 38 eyes (36 patients) that underwent PDT. ICGA, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT) for central foveal thickness were conducted. Changes of choroidal perfusion were graded on a five point scales based on the degree of choridal hypoperfusion in the early and late phases of ICGA. RESULTS: Choriocapillary hypoperfusion was seen in 10 eyes among 30 eyes (33.3%) in group 2, but not in group 1 and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.002). However there is a limitation in confirming choroidal hypoperfusion owing to the thinning of both choriocapillaris and the RPE-Bruch's membrane complex in myopic CNV. In patients with CNV in AMD (Group 2), presence of choroidal hypoperfusion before PDT was accociated with the progression of hypoperfusion after PDT (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In CNV in AMD, presence of choroidal hypoperfusion before treatment seems to play a role in progression of hypoperfusion after treatment.