Indocyanine green angiography and age-related serous pigment epithelial detachment

• Published in: Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology 1996-01, Vol.234 (1), p.25-33
• Main Authors: Sallet, G, Lafaut, B A, De Laey, J J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Choroid - blood supply; Female; Fluorescein Angiography; Fundus Oculi; Humans; Indocyanine Green; Laser Coagulation; Macular Degeneration - complications; Male; Middle Aged; Neovascularization, Pathologic - diagnosis; Retinal Detachment - diagnosis; Retinal Detachment - etiology; Retinal Detachment - surgery
• ISSN: 0721-832X; 1435-702X
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00186515

Fundus fluorescein angiography has shown that pigment epithelial detachment in age-related macular degeneration is often associated with choroidal neovascularisation (CNV). Indocyanine green angiography (ICG-A) provides a better visualisation of choroidal circulation and of CNV than fluorescein angiography (FA). We studied the ICG angiograms of 58 eyes presenting age-related pigment epithelial detachment, either with signs of occult CNV (48 eyes) or without signs of CNV (10 eyes) on FA. In selected cases the neovascular complex defined on the ICG angiogram was photocoagulated. ICG-A revealed hyperfluorescence interpreted as CNV in 46 of 48 eyes with fluorescein angiographic signs of occult choroidal neovascularisation. The neovascular complex seen on the ICG angiogram was well delineated in 29 eyes and ill defined in 17 eyes. ICG-A revealed CNV in 2 of 10 eyes without signs of CNV on FA. In these two cases the neovascular complex was ill defined. Photocoagulation in selected cases resulted in stabilisation or even improvement of visual acuity and flattening of the pigment epithelial detachment in 9 of 18 cases. ICG-A may offer a better definition of the neovascular complex associated with pigment epithelial detachment in age-related macular disease and be helpful in guiding laser treatment. In some cases FA still outlines more clearly the lesions to be treated. FA and ICG-A should thus be used concurrently to determine treatment strategy.