Choroidal neovascularization in second eyes of patients with unilateral exudative age-related macular degeneration

To evaluate patients with unilateral occult choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) for the nature of the neovascularization which develops in the fellow eyes.

Patients with newly diagnosed unilateral occult CNV were followed prospectively for the development of CNV in the fellow eye. Patients were classified based on the type of occult CNV in the first eye: (1) those with associated serous pigment epithelial detachment (serous PED) and (2) those without. Demographic and clinical data, including the type of CNV in the second eyes, were compared.

Choroidal neovascularization developed in 115 patients in the second eye. Fifty-six patients had occult CNV with a serous PED (also termed vascularized PED) in the first eye, and 59 patients had occult CNV without serous PED. The two groups did not differ significantly in the demographic and the clinical features evaluated. Well-delineated (or classic) CNV developed in the fellow eye of one patient in each group. Of the remaining 55 patients with vascularized PED in the first eye, the same type of occult CNV developed in 48 (87%) patients in the second eye. Of 58 (84%) patients in the second group, the same type of occult CNV developed in the second eye of 49 patients. This symmetric distribution of type of CNV between eyes is highly significant (P < 0.001).

Eyes with occult CNV secondary to AMD can be classified by the presence or absence of an associated serous PED. Patients with unilateral occult CNV have a significant risk of occult CNV developing in the second eye, and the type of occult disease in the first eye is highly predictive of the type of neovascularized disease in the second eye. These findings are important with respect to natural history, and possibly to the treatment response and visual prognosis of patients with neovascularized AMD.