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¹SSK Ankara Göz Hastalıkları Merkezi ve Göz Bankası
²Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Göz Hastalıkları AD. Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of laser photocoagulation of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to angioid streaks in preventing severe visual loss.
Material and Methods: Eight eyes of 7 consecutive patients with extrafoveal, well-defined CNV secondary to angioid streaks were treated with argon laser photocoagulation.
Results: The patients were followed-up between 3-36 months (median 15 months). Pretreatment visual acuities (VA) were between 0.1-1.0 (median 0.4) with Snellen chart. Following laser treatment median VAs were 0.1 at 3-month, 0.1 at 6-month, counting finger at 1m at 12-month, counting finger at 1m at 24-month and counting finger at 1m at 36-month respectively. Persistent CNV occured in 4 eyes (50 %) and these eyes received multiple laser photocoagulation applications. CNV recurred one or more times in 3 eyes (37.5 %). Complete destruction of CNV was accomplished in 3 eyes (37.5 %) following laser photocoagulation. VAs were stabilized and did not change in these 3 eyes (37.5 %); the remaining 5 (62.5 %) eyes had substantial decrease in VA.
Conclusion: Direct laser photocoagulation of CNV secondary to angioid streaks may benefit from the procedure and slow down visual loss. The high frequency rate of recurrences warrants frequent clinical and angiographic follow-up. Keywords : Angioid Streaks, CNV, Argon laser photocoagulation