Purpose: To describe highly myopic patients in which either the large choroidal veins or arteries were occluded following PDT treatment.
Methods: Demographic features of two highly myopic patients in which large choroidal vessels were occluded at 1 week following PDT, among a total of 23 patients who received PDT due to choroidal neovascularization (CNV) caused by high myopia, were demonstrated.
Results: In case 1, ICG angiography demonstrated the complete occlusion of several large choroidal veins within the laser-applied area at 1 week after PDT. In case 2, ICG angiography demonstrated an occlusion of choroidal artery emanating from beneath the CNV. One month after PDT, re-perfusion of the occluded choroidal vessels was noted in both patients.
Conclusion: Occlusion of choroidal veins has never been reported in eyes with CNV treated by verteporfin therapy. Although further studies are necessary, occlusion of large choroidal vessels might happen in highly myopic eyes more commonly than expected. ICG angiography at 1 week after PDT was useful to evaluate the impact of PDT on large choroidal vessels.