Bilateral Neovascularization in the Icelandic Genetic Study of AMD.

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To study individuals who have neovascularization due to AMD in both eyes. Firstly time interval between the neovascularization in each eye was studied. Secondly the early changes were assessed when possible. Thirdly the genealogy of this group was studied. Methods: There were 151 individuals diagnosed with bilateral neovascularization in the Icelandic Genetic Study of AMD. The fundus photographs of all these patients were examined and classified according to the international classification system. When available previous fundus photographs, fluorescein angiographies and notes were reviewed. Relatedness was decided in the Icelandic Genealogy Database. Time between onsets of disease in individual eye was calculated. The influence of different factors on this time was then calculated. Results: For the 151 individuals with bilateral neovasculariation the mean time between onset of the disease in each eye was 2,5 year (CI: 0,7). In our group 82% had developed bilateral disease within 4 years of onset in the first eye. All individuals except two had prominent drusen changes in the macula area in the second eye. The distribution of drusen changed after the appearance of neovascularization. In our group 55 individuals were related in 25 families. Conclusions: Our results show that high–risk time for neovascularization in the second eye is within 4 years of onset in the first eye. We confirm that prominent drusen in the macula area is a risk factor for neovascularizaton. Previous studies in Iceland have demonstrated a higher familiar clustering of Geographic Atrophy compared to these genealogy figures for neovascularization.

Keywords: age–related macular degeneration • neovascularization • genetics