Natural History and Visual Prognosis of Idiopathic Choroidal Neovascularization

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To examine long-term natural history and visual prognosis of idiopathic subfoveal or juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV). METHODS: A retrospective review of fourteen eyes diagnosed as idiopathic CNV at Seoul National University Hospital was done. Patients under 40 years old whose follow-up period of more than 36 months without treatments were included. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) with biomicroscopic and fluorescein angiographic examinations was measured at the initial and final visit. Clinical factors correlated with final visual acuity were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean age was 34 years ranged from 20 to 40 years and male to female ratio was 4 to 10. Patients were followed for a median of 45 months (range, 36-60 months). On initial examinations, BCVA in 14 eyes was over 0.15 with eight eyes under 0.5 and with six eyes over 0.6. Subfoveal CNV were in 12 eyes and juxtafoveal were in 2. All had the size smaller than 1DD (disc diameter). On the final visit, BCVA in 14 eyes was over 0.2 with three eyes under 0.5 and 11 eyes more than 0.6. Five eyes (36%) retained visual acuity and 8 eyes (57%) improved more than two lines. BCVA in one eye deteriorated two lines. In 6 eyes (42%), CNV was found to be regressed after the follow-up period. Initial visual acuity was significantly correlated with final visual acuity (p=0.013, Pearson correlation test). CONCLUSIONS: Idiopathic CNV has favorable visual prognosis and a tendency of spontaneous involution.