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Br J Ophthalmol 96:1217-1221 doi:10.1136/bjophthalmol-2012-301644
  • Original articles
  • Clinical science

Development of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in unaffected fellow eyes

  1. Jae Hui Kim1
  1. 1Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
  2. 2Department of Ophthalmology, Ewha Womans University, School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
  3. 3Doctor Lee's Eye Clinic, Suwon, Kyunggi-do, Republic of Korea
  1. Correspondence to Dr Se Woong Kang, Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, #50 Irwon-Dong, Kangnam-Gu, Seoul 135-710, Republic of Korea; swkang{at}skku.edu

  1. Contributors YTK: Conception, design, acquisition of data, analysis, drafting and revising the article, final approval of all the versions. SWK: Conception, design, interpretation of data, critical revision, final approval of all the versions. SEC: Acquisition and interpretation of data, critical revision of manuscript, final approval of all the versions. MGK: Acquisition and analysis of data, critical revision of manuscript, final approval of all the versions. JHK: Design and analysis of data, critical revision of manuscript and final approval of all the versions.

  • Accepted 10 June 2012
  • Published Online First 3 July 2012

Abstract

Purpose To assess longitudinal changes and determine their angiographic risk factors in the fellow eyes of patients with unilateral polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

Methods We reviewed the medical records of 47 patients with unilateral PCV, all of whom had completed at least 12 months of follow-up. The angiographic features were evaluated including the development of active PCV over time, choroidal vessel dilation, choroidal vascular hyperpermeability, the branching vascular network (BVN) and late geographic hyperfluorescence (LGH), which was defined as a well-demarcated geographic hyperfluorescent lesion on late-phase on indocyanine green angiography (ICGA).

Results The mean follow-up period was 30.3±12.2 months. Among 47 fellow eyes, 24 (51.1%) had choroidal vascular dilation, 27 (57.4%) had choroidal vascular hyperpermeability, six (12.8%) had BVN and 23 (48.9%) had LGH. The development of active PCV was noted in nine fellow eyes (19.1%), all of which had exhibited LGH at baseline. However, PCV did not develop in eyes without features of LGH at baseline (p<0.001). The development of PCV was noted in three eyes with notification of BVN at baseline; however, PCV also developed in six eyes without apparent features of BVN (p=0.08).

Conclusion The presence of LGH on ICGA in the fellow eye appears to be a significant risk factor for the development of active PCV and may constitute the diagnosis of preclinical PCV.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests None.

  • Ethics approval Ethics approval was provided by Samsung Medical Centre Institutional Review Board.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

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    1. bjophthalmol-2012-301644v1
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