Investigation of precursor lesions of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy using contralateral eye findings.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose was to investigate precursor lesions of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).


METHODS
This cross-sectional study involved 276 unaffected contralateral eyes from unilateral PCV patients (Group 1), unilateral typical exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients (Group 2), and unilateral epiretinal membrane patients (Group 3) as age-matched controls. Grayish-yellow sub-retinal or sub-retinal-pigment-epithelial deposits larger than 63 μm in size with irregular but discrete margins were defined as drusen-like deposits (DLDs). The frequencies of DLDs, drusen, and pigmentary changes in each group were compared.


RESULTS
DLDs larger than 125 μm in size were found more frequently in Group 1 (19.5 %) than in Groups 2 (3.4 %) and 3 (3.2 %) (p < 0.001). Soft drusen were discovered more frequently in Group 2 eyes than in Groups 1 and 3 (p < 0.001). Pigmentary changes were found more frequently in Groups 1 and 2 compared to Group 3. Compared with the other groups, Group 1 manifested a higher frequency of choroidal vascular hyperpermeability (p < 0.005) and thicker choroid (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The precursor lesions of PCV are different from those of exudative AMD. DLDs larger than 125 μm and pigmentary changes may be early preclinical markers of PCV. Long-term longitudinal studies are warranted for validation.
Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, #81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea. swkang@skku.edu.
Se Woong
SW
Kang
Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, #81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea.
Hoyoung
H
Lee
Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, #81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea.
Kunho
K
Bae
Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul, Korea.
Joo Young
JY
Shin
Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, #81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea.
Sang Jin
SJ
Kim
Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, #81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea.
Jong Min
JM
Kim
D000368:Aged; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011127:Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011379:Prognosis; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000473:pathology*; D014792:Visual Acuity
Age-related macular degeneration; Drusen-like deposit; Pigmentary change; Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy