Indocyanine green videoangiography after acute retinal pigment epithelial tears in age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the features of combined fluorescein and indocyanine green videoangiography after acute retinal pigment epithelial tears associated with age-related macular degeneration.


METHODS
We performed combined fluorescein and indocyanine green videoangiography in three eyes of three patients 2 days to 2 months after the development of tears of the retinal pigment epithelium.


RESULTS
The area of exposed choroid in a retinal pigment epithelial tear shows intense hyperfluorescence in fluorescein videoangiography; in contrast, this area demonstrates near-normal choroidal fluorescence on an indocyanine green videoangiogram. The folded and retracted flap of retinal pigment epithelium in a retinal pigment epithelial tear discloses marked hypofluorescence on the fluorescein videoangiogram; in contrast, this flap of retinal pigment epithelium displays varying degrees of hyperfluorescence on the indocyanine green videoangiogram.


CONCLUSIONS
The angiographic differences between fluorescein and indocyanine green result from the distinct biophysical properties of these two dyes as well as from the differential penetration of their fluorescence through such pigmented structures as retinal pigment epithelium. Compared with fluorescein videoangiography, indocyanine green videoangiography allows better visualization of choroidal neovascular membranes within the rolled-up and retracted flap of the retinal pigment epithelial tear.
Arroyo
J G
JG
Department of Ophthalmology, University of California at San Francisco, USA.
Schatz
H
H
McDonald
R
R
Johnson
R N
RN
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000473:pathology*; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D014741:Video Recording; D014792:Visual Acuity
D007208:Indocyanine Green