A pilot study of digital indocyanine green videoangiography for recurrent occult choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration

Arch Ophthalmol. 1994 Apr;112(4):473-9. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1994.01090160049021.

Abstract

Purpose: Digital indocyanine green videoangiography (ICG-V) was used to study recurrent choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in patients with the clinical and fluorescein angiographic findings indicative of ill-defined, or recurrent occult, CNV (RO-CNV). The use of ICG-V-guided laser caphotocoagulation as an alternative form of treatment was also investigated when a well-delineated area of CNV was imaged with this technique.

Methods: A consecutive series of 66 patients were studied who presented with exudative age-related macular degeneration and symptoms and clinical manifestations of recurrent CNV in which fluorescein angiography did not reveal classic, or well-defined, neovascularization. Patients were selected for laser treatment based on conventional guidelines if ICG-V imaged a well-delineated area of recurrent CNV.

Results: Indocyanine green videoangiography showed late staining that was consistent with recurrent CNV in 64 (97%) of these 66 patients with RO-CNV. Twenty-nine (44%) of the 66 were eligible for laser treatment, and 18 (62%) of these 29 patients experienced successful anatomic and visual results, which were defined as resolution of the exudative manifestations and improvement or stabilization (+/- 1 line on a Snellen chart) of vision.

Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that ICG-V is of value in imaging patients with RO-CNV after laser photocoagulation for CNV secondary to age-related macular degeneration. Laser treatment of RO-CNV with ICG-V guidance may be successful both anatomically and functionally in a promising number of these otherwise untreatable cases. Further studies are necessary to validate these preliminary findings.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Choroid / blood supply*
  • Fluorescein Angiography / methods*
  • Fundus Oculi
  • Humans
  • Indocyanine Green*
  • Laser Coagulation
  • Macular Degeneration / complications*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / diagnosis*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / etiology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / surgery
  • Pilot Projects
  • Recurrence
  • Video Recording

Substances

  • Indocyanine Green