CLINICAL SCIENCE

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in Chinese patients

A K H Kwok¹, T Y Y Lai¹, C W N Chan², E-L Neoh¹ and D S C Lam¹

¹ Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
² Department of Ophthalmology, Tung Wah Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Alvin K H Kwok, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 3/F University Eye Centre, Hong Kong Eye Hospital, 147K Argyle Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China;
kwokak{at}ha.org.hk

Aims: To report the clinical features and outcomes of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in Chinese patients with or without laser treatment.

Methods: A consecutive series of 204 indocyanine green angiographies (ICGA) performed for patients with a provisional diagnosis of age related macular degeneration were reviewed retrospectively. Inclusion criteria were ICGA with angiographic features of PCV and patients of Chinese ethnic origin. Medical records were then reviewed and patients were recalled for further assessments.

Results: 22 eyes of 19 patients (9.3%) were included. The mean follow up period was 27.4 months (range 4–60 months). The mean age of patients at presentation was 65.1 years (range 51–77 years). The commonest clinical feature at presentation was subretinal haemorrhage (63.6%), followed by retinal exudation (59.1%) and haemorrhagic pigment epithelial detachment (59.1%). There was a predominance of males (68.4%), unilaterality (84.2%), and macular location of polyps (63.6%). Nine eyes received laser photocoagulation. The median initial visual acuity for both the laser and non-laser groups was 6/18. Stable or improved vision was attained in 56% and 31% of laser and non-laser groups, respectively (Fisher’s exact test, p=0.38). Mean loss of Snellen lines was 3.1 and 1.1 for the two groups, respectively (two sample t test, p=0.31). At the last follow up, 15 (68.2%) eyes had poor visual acuity of 6/60 or worse, mostly attributed to disciform scar or exudative maculopathy.

Conclusions: There is a predominance of males, unilaterality, and macular location of polyps in Chinese patients with PCV. The overall visual prognosis is guarded regardless of treatment. There is a large amount of variation in the natural course of PCV among different ethnic groups.

Keywords: Chinese; choroidal vasculopathy; laser photocoagulation

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