Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the exudative changes of branching vascular network in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) after photodynamic therapy.
Methods: :
We examined 23 eyes of 23 patients (18 males, 5 females) with PCV using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Patient’s age ranged 62-83 years (mean,72.4). Indocyanine green angiography demonstrated branching vascular networks and polyplike dilatations at terminal branches in all 23 eyes. Cross-sectional images of SD-OCT were obtained in each eye by scanning line through the branching vascular networks and polypoidal structures at the baseline and three month after photodynamic therapy (PDT).
Results: :
SD-OCT showed two separated reflective layers ("double layer sign") which consisted of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Bruch membrane in the area of branching vascular networks in 21 of 23 eyes at the base line. These all 21 eyes with "double layer sign" had serous retinal detachment. At the three months after PDT, "double layer sign" disappeared in 17 eyes along with resolution of serous retinal detachment. "Double layer sign" remained in only 4 eyes with persistent serous retinal detachment.
Conclusions: :
"Double layer sign" appears to reflect exudative detachment of RPE from Bruch membrane due to hyper-permeable branching network vessels. Since this sign disappeared along with absorption of subretinal fluid after PDT, it has a diagnostic value to assess the permeability of branching network vessels in PCV.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • choroid: neovascularization