title: A novel classification of the vascular patterns of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy and its relation to clinical outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To propose a novel classification system for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), and compare the clinical outcomes among PCV subtypes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive treatment-naive patients with symptomatic PCV were managed over 5 years. PCV subtypes were classified based on indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and fluorescein angiography (FA) characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 107 patients, 3 PCV subtypes were seen: Type A (interconnecting channels on ICGA) -22.4%; Type B (branching vascular network with no leakage) -24.3%; Type C (branching vascular network with late leakage on FA) -53.3%. The proportion of patients with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ≥20/40 was highest in Type A, intermediate in Type B and lowest in Type C at all time points (80% vs 66.7% vs 7.7% at 5 years, p<0.001). The highest rate of moderate visual loss (loss of ≥3 lines) occurred in Type C PCV (57.7% vs 0% for Types B and A at 5 years, p<0.001). Risk factors for poor visual outcomes were PCV subtype (OR 53.7, p<0.001 for Type C and OR 13.7, p=0.023 for Type B compared to Type A) and age (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.002 to 1.125, p=0.044).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PCV subtype seen on initial presentation affects the long-term visual outcomes over a 5-year period.
authors.affiliation: National Healthcare Group Eye Institute, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore Fundus Image Reading Center, National Healthcare Group Eye Institute, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Colin S H
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: National Healthcare Group Eye Institute, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Wei Kiong
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Ngo
authors.affiliation: National Healthcare Group Eye Institute, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Louis W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: National Healthcare Group Eye Institute, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore Fundus Image Reading Center, National Healthcare Group Eye Institute, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Tock Han
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000145:classification* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011127:Polyps / Q000145:classification* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin; D007208:Indocyanine Green
keywords: Imaging; Macula; Retina