The evolution of argon laser photocoagulation scars in patients with the ocular histoplasmosis syndrome

In 34 patients (35 eyes) with successfully treated histoplasmic choroidal neovascular membranes with a mean follow-up of 10.1 years, neither the neovascular membrane size nor the distance to the center of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) affected final visual acuity. For a subgroup of 18 patients who had a two-year follow-up visit, the average chorioretinal scar expanded in area 50.1% per year for the first two years and 4.6% per year thereafter. This corresponded to a migration rate toward the FAZ of 152 micron/y for the first two years and 22 micron/y thereafter. After ten years, the average scar was 3.23 times larger than the initial treatment area and 480 micron closer to the FAZ than the initial treatment edge. Of the eight patients whose scars expanded to involve the center of the FAZ, six had final visual acuities either equal to or better than the initial visual acuities.