Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 7, 2025
Author Spotlight: Overcoming Anti-VEGF Resistance Through Advanced Vascular Morphology Assessment in Choroidal Neovascularization
Published on: August 11, 2023
Drusen characteristics of type 2 macular neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration
Daniel Ahmed1,2, Martin Stattin1,2, Anna-Maria Haas1,2
1Karl Landsteiner Institute for Retinal Research and Imaging, Vienna, Austria.
Background:
Type 2 macular neovascularization (MNV) is supposed to be a rare condition in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The main purpose of this study was to assess accompanying factors of type 2 MNV in AMD.
Methods:
Retrospective data analysis of eyes previously diagnosed with neovascular AMD in a tertiary eye care center (Medical Retina Unit, Rudolf Foundation Hospital, Vienna, Austria) between June 2008 and December 2017. Drusen subtypes, fibrosis, atrophy and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) of both eyes in patients with type 2 MNV lesions were categorized based on multimodal imaging.
Results:
Type 2 MNV was diagnosed in 27 (3.2%) of 835 eyes (749 patients). Drusen characteristics in type 2 MNV were observed as followed: drusen < 63 μm in 2 eyes (7.4%), drusen ≥63 μm in 10 eyes (37%), subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDD) in 8 eyes (29.6%), cuticular drusen in 2 eye (7.4%) and no drusen were evident in 10 eyes (37%). Drusen distribution in 23 fellow eyes was detected as followed: drusen < 63 μm in 2 eyes (8.7%), drusen ≥63 μm in 9 eyes (39.1%), SDD in 5 eyes (21.7%), cuticular drusen in 1 eye (4.3%) and no drusen were evident in 9 eyes (39.1%). Mean SFCT was 140 ± 49 μm in affected eyes and 152 ± 41 μm in the fellow eyes. Patients with drusen or SDD were significantly younger (mean 70.88 ± 6.85, p = 0.04) than patients without deposits (mean 77.40 ± 5.74).
Conclusions:
Type 2 MNV remains a rare entity in AMD. It was frequently seen in the absence of drusen, a hallmark of AMD. These findings contribute to the heterogeneity of phenotypes related to pure type 2 lesions.
Insights
Type 2 macular neovascularization (MNV) is rare in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This condition often occurs without drusen, challenging typical AMD understandings and highlighting phenotypic diversity.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Medical Retina Research
Background:
- Type 2 macular neovascularization (MNV) is considered uncommon in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
- Understanding factors associated with type 2 MNV is crucial for AMD patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and associated factors of type 2 MNV in patients with AMD.
- To analyze drusen characteristics, fibrosis, atrophy, and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in eyes with type 2 MNV.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 835 eyes diagnosed with neovascular AMD between 2008 and 2017.
- Multimodal imaging was used to categorize drusen subtypes, fibrosis, atrophy, and SFCT in affected and fellow eyes.
Main Results:
- Type 2 MNV was identified in 3.2% of eyes (27/835).
- Drusen characteristics varied, with 37% of affected eyes having larger drusen (≥63 μm) and 37% showing no drusen.
- Patients with drusen or subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDD) were significantly younger than those without.
Conclusions:
- Type 2 MNV is a rare finding in AMD, frequently presenting without the characteristic drusen.
- The presence of type 2 MNV, especially in the absence of drusen, contributes to the understanding of AMD phenotypic heterogeneity.
More Related Videos
10:14Author Spotlight: Ex Vivo OCT-Based Multimodal Imaging of Human Donor Eyes for Research into Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Published on: May 26, 2023
09:24A Protocol to Evaluate and Quantify Retinal Pigmented Epithelium Pathologies in Mouse Models of Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Published on: March 10, 2023