Long-term visual acuity after argon green laser photocoagulation of juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization in highly myopic eyes.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate visual outcomes in patients with high myopia afterjuxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) treated with argon green laser photocoagulation.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed 23 eyes of 21 patients with high myopia (>6.0 diopters and/or axial length >26 mm) with juxta foveal CNV treated with direct Argon green laser photocoagulation. Mean age at diagnosis was 49.08+/-12.20 years (range, 29 to 71). Mean follow-up was 54.26+/-26.18 months (range 18 to 96).


RESULTS
Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before treatment was 0.09+/-0.10 (range, 0.01 to 0.40). Two months after treatment it was 0.14+/-0.12 (0.01 to 0.6), significant difference (p=0.02, Student's t-test forpaired data) and aftersix months 0.19+/-0.14 (0.01 to 0.5) (p=0.0002). Mean BCVA decreased with follow-up, to 0.19+/-0.15 (0.01 to 0.4) after two years, 0.16+/-0.15 (0.01 to 0.5) after three years and 0.16+/-0.19 (0.01 to 0.7) after four years, with no significant improvement after the third year (p=0.04). In two cases CNV reappeared.


CONCLUSIONS
Direct argon green laser photocoagulation in high-myopia juxtafoveal CNV can improve BCVA initially for between two and 24 months. The improvement fades with time, and is no longer significant after the third year.
Ruiz-Moreno
J M
JM
Department of Ophthalmology, Miguel Hernández University School of Medicine, Instituto Oftalmológico de Alicante Vitreo-Retinal Unit, Alicante - Spain. im.ruiz@umh.es
Montero
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005584:Fovea Centralis; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*