Correlation of histologic 2-dimensional reconstruction and confocal scanning laser microscopic imaging of choroidal neovascularization in eyes with age-related maculopathy.

Abstract

AGE-RELATED maculopathy (ARM) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the United States. The neovascular form of ARM, choroidal neovascularization (CNV), occurs in at least 0.6% to 0.7% of the population.^1,2 The pathological characteristics of CNV in ARM have been studied in postmortem eyes that were untreated^3-7 or treated with laser photocoagulation^8,9 or surgery.¹⁰ Surgically excised CNV specimens in patients with age-related macular degeneration have been examined by light microscopy, electron microscopy,¹¹ and with immunohistochemical staining.¹² Two-dimensional reconstructions of the histologic findings of CNV in postmortem eyes^8,9 and surgically excised CNV¹³ have been described. The 2-dimensional reconstructions have been compared with fluorescein angiograms performed before enucleation.^8,9 Some studies have compared Macular Photocoagulation Study fluorescein angiographic "classic" and "occult" patterns of CNV¹⁴ with the histopathologic findings in surgically excised CNV¹⁵ and 2-dimensional reconstructions.¹⁶