Factors associated with early detection of choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration in the clinic setting.
BACKGROUND
Delayed diagnosis of choroidal neovas cularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) adversely affects visual outcome.


OBJECTIVE
To identify factors associated with early detection of CNV in the clinic setting.


METHODS
Demographic and clinical data and lesion characteristics were retrospectively collected from 76 consecutive AMD patients who had a history of CNV in one eye and presented with CNV in the second eye. These data were evaluated for association with visual acuity (VA) at the time of presentation.


RESULTS
Better VA was associated with a history of CNV in the fellow eye (P < 0.0001), adherence to follow-up every 4 months (P = 0.015), younger age (P = 0.03), smaller lesion (P < 0.0001), and non-subfoveal location (P = 0.048). VA of the fellow eye did not correlate with VA at presentation with CNV.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that patients' experience of CNV, regardless of VA, facilitates early diagnosis in the fellow eye. Adherence to follow-up in the routine clinic setting also facilitates early detection of CNV.
Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center and Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
Alejandro
A
Lichtinger
Mauricio
M
Caraza
Tural
T
Galbinur
Itay
I
Chowers
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity