De novo subretinal neovascularization in the histoplasmosis syndrome

A 22-year-old man was seen with the ocular histoplasmosis syndrome. This case demonstrates that spontaneous or "de novo" neovascularization without prior pigmentary changes can occasionally, although rarely, give rise to the disciform macular disease process and the potential for loss of central vision. The lesion initially responded favorably to treatment with heavy argon laser photocoagulation in the parafoveal area, including the papillomacular area, but subsequent areas of neovascularization proved intractable to laser therapy.