Purpose: To investigate the development and progression patterns of macular neovascularization (MNV)-related atrophies in eyes with pathologic myopia (PM).
Methods: Twenty-seven eyes of 26 patients with MNV followed from its onset to progression to macular atrophy were studied. A longitudinal series of auto-fluorescence and OCT images were examined for the patterns of MNV-related atrophy. Changes of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were determined for each pattern.
Results: The mean age was 67.2±8.7 years. The mean axial length was 29.6±1.5 mm. Three patterns of atrophy were identified: Multiple-atrophic Pattern, 63% of the eyes had small atrophies occurring at multiple sites around the MNV edge; Single-atrophic Pattern, 18.5% had atrophies occurring only on one side of the MNV edge; and Exudation-related Pattern, 18.5% had atrophy occurring within a previous serous exudation or hemorrhagic area and slightly away from the MNV edge. Eyes with atrophies in multiple-atrophic and exudation-related patterns progressed to large macular atrophies involving the central fovea and showed decrease of BCVA during the 3-year follow-up period. Eyes with single-atrophic pattern had a sparing of the fovea and had good recovery of the BCVA.
Conclusion: There are three patterns of MNV-related atrophy in eyes with PM with different courses of progression.
Xie S, Lu H, Chen C, Xiong J, et al. Morphological characteristics and progression patterns of macular neovascularization-related atrophy in eyes with pathologic myopia. Retina 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37343303/
