Background: To assess the natural history of juxtafoveal and subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in eyes with high myopia.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 31 patients (31 eyes) with myopia > or = 6 diopters, well-defined juxtafoveal (1-200 microm from the foveal center) or subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) on fluorescein angiography at baseline, no prior laser treatment, age < or = 55 years and presenting visual acuity (VA) > or = 20/200. Initial and final VA were compared with the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Multifactor analysis of variance was used to assess the association between baseline characteristics of the lesion and final VA.
Results: Twenty-two patients were females and 9 males with a median age of 44 years (range 14-55). Median diopters spherical equivalent was -11.5 (range -6, -25). Follow-up ranged from 1 to 20 years (median, 3 years). Nine eyes had juxtafoveal CNV and 22 subfoveal involvement. Median final VA (20/100) was significantly worse than median initial VA (20/50)(p = 0.02). A decrease in VA > or = 2 lines occurred in 18 eyes, whereas 8 eyes remained stable and 5 improved (4 juxtafoveal membranes and 1 subfoveal membrane). Of the 9 juxtafoveal CNV, 7 had a final VA > or = 20/40 after a median follow-up of 4 years. By contrast, only 2 of the 22 subfoveal CNV had a final VA > or = 20/40 (median, 20/100) with a median follow-up of 2.5 years. The only factor associated with better final VA was the initial location of CNV (p = 0.0000).
Conclusion: This study confirms the poor functional outcome of subfoveal CNV in degenerative myopia with more than 70% of patients having a final VA of 20/100 or less. Juxtafoveal CNV shows a better functional prognosis. These differences should be considered when planning treatment strategies.