title: Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography features preceding new-onset neovascular membrane formation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency and characteristic spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) features preceding new-onset choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in the fellow eye of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with SD-OCT.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-eight fellow eyes of patients with unilateral CNV.
  
  
  METHODS
  SD-OCT was performed at baseline and then monthly. The main outcome measure is the description of retinal morphology 1 month before new onset of neovascularization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 48-month observation period, new-onset CNV was observed in 27 fellow eyes. Several morphologic features characterized SD-OCT images ≥1 months before new onset of CNV. These included new retinal pigment epithelium defects (2 eyes), new photoreceptor defects (7 eyes), drusen touching the photoreceptor layer and the external limiting membrane (13 eyes), and new drusen (4 eyes) hyperreflective spots probably representing new growing vessels (5 eyes).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Monthly SD-OCT screening of fellow eyes of patients treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor enables identification of morphologic changes that may predispose or precede CNV formation. Rapid identification of CNV formation enhances treatment immediacy.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Clinic "Jasne Blonia" Rojna 90, 91-162 Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Michalewski
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Clinic "Jasne Blonia" Rojna 90, 91-162 Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nawrocki
authors.affiliation: III Municipal Hospital, K. Jonscher, Milionowa 14 Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trebinska
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Clinic "Jasne Blonia" Rojna 90, 91-162 Lodz, Poland. Electronic address: zosia_n@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Zofia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Michalewska
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015593:Retinal Drusen / Q000473:pathology; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A