Indocyanine green angiographic features of pathologic myopia

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Retinal Diseases

Background:

• Pathologic myopia is associated with significant visual impairment.
• Understanding the underlying choroidal vascular changes is critical for managing complications.
• Fluorescein angiography (FA) has limitations in visualizing deeper choroidal structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze indocyanine green angiographic (ICGA) findings in pathologic myopia.
• To compare ICGA findings with fluorescein angiography (FA).
• To assess the utility of ICGA in managing neovascular complications.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-two patients (52 eyes) with pathologic myopia underwent complete ophthalmologic examination.
• Both fluorescein angiography (FA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) were performed.
• Analysis focused on visualization of retrobulbar arteries, veins, and choroidal vasculature.

Main Results:

• ICGA visualized retrobulbar arteries and veins in 63% of eyes, surpassing FA.
• Choroidal arteries were attenuated, and veins were less numerous in areas of staphyloma.
• ICGA identified more cases of choroidal neovascularization (18 vs 16) and revealed lacquer cracks as a cause of hemorrhage in 7 eyes.

Conclusions:

• ICGA effectively visualizes retrobulbar arteries and veins and analyzes altered choroidal vasculature in pathologic myopia.
• ICGA is a valuable tool for differentiating lacquer cracks from choroidal neovascularization.
• ICGA improves the diagnostic accuracy for neovascular complications in pathologic myopia.