Factors influencing visual acuity after photocoagulation for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization of exudative age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate factors influencing visual acuity after laser photocoagulation for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization of exudative age-related macular degeneration.


METHODS
Subfoveal choroidal neovascular membranes were photocoagulated. Factors favoring a visual acuity of 20/200 or better were analyzed using Fisher's exact probability test or chi-square test on 28 eyes in which visual acuity was 20/200 or better, and 23 eyes with a visual acuity below 20/200 at the most recent follow-up examination.


RESULTS
Factors predicting a postoperative visual acuity of 20/200 or better were (1) distance between one lateral margin of the neovascular membrane and the center of the foveal avascular zone was one-third disc diameter or less, and (2) pretreatment retinal sensitivity at the fixation point was 10 dB or more.


CONCLUSIONS
Good indications for photocoagulation treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascular membrane were a neovascular membrane margin near the center of the foveal avascular zone and relatively good retinal sensitivity at the fixation point adjacent to the scotoma. These factors predict a visual acuity of 20/200 or better after treatment.
Yuzawa
M
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Tamakoshi
A
A
Ueha
M
M
Kawakubo
H
H
Nakajima
M
M
D000368:Aged; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005584:Fovea Centralis; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012307:Risk Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D014794:Visual Fields