These new classifications include polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) 7 and retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) 8. ICGA allows retinal specialists to move beyond the present FA-based categorization of “occult/poorly defined” and “classic/well-defined” lesions to develop a more refined classification of CNV 6. The advent of ICGA facilitated the detection and demarcation of occult or poorly defined choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Since then, several useful diagnostic systems have been introduced, including indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) 3, optical coherence tomography (OCT) 4, and, most recently, OCT angiography 5. There have been considerable advances in the diagnosis of AMD since Novotony and Alvis first introduced the use of fluorescein angiography (FA) in the human fundus 2. Our results highlight the importance of angiography for identifying AMD subtypes, particularly the novel MCV group being distinct from other subtypes.Īge-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive chronic disease of the central retina and a leading cause of vision loss worldwide 1. There was a significant difference in visual acuity at 12 months among five subtypes ( P = 0.046).

Subfoveal choroidal thickness was highest in MCV, and lowest in RAP ( P < 0.001). Central macular subfield thickness was highest in RAP, and lowest in MCV ( P = 0.036). Classic CNV presented with worse visual acuity compared with MCV at baseline ( P < 0.001). Among 339 eyes, five AMD subtypes were identified: 41 (12.1%) with classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV), 30 (8.8%) with occult CNV, 91 (26.8%) with microaneurysmal choroidal vasculopathy (MCV), 123 (36.3%) with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), and 54 (15.9%) with retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP). In this study, we classified treatment-naïve neovascular AMD patients using novel angiographic classification system and investigated the incidence and clinical characteristics of AMD subtypes. However, there is still a large proportion of patient with ambiguous findings according to current classification criteria. Several classifications schemes have been developed to provide subtypes of neovascular AMD, which are known to be associated with visual prognosis. Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in elderly population.

Classic net eye vessels