Management of recalcitrant polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy by feeder vessel laser photocoagulation

Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep. 2018 Jan 31:9:112-115. doi: 10.1016/j.ajoc.2018.01.031. eCollection 2018 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose: To describe management of residual branch vascular network (BVN) in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) by thermal laser photocoagulation of feeder vessel.

Observations: Case report of sixty-four year old female with polypoidal choroidal vaculopathy (PCV) with moderate response to seven doses of intravitreal ranibizumab, six doses of intravitreal bevacizumab and one session of photodynamic therapy (PDT). The patient has resolved polyps but persistence of disease activity due to residual BVN and large pigment epithelial detachment (PED). Patient underwent thermal laser photocoagulation of feeder vessel of BVN identified on indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). There was complete resolution of residual BVN and large PED, which was confirmed on ICGA.

Conclusions and importance: Recalcitrant cases of PCV without polyps but having BVN with feeder vessel can be managed by ICGA guided thermal laser photocoagulation. The case report illustrates the importance of utilizing multimodal imaging such as video indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) for identification of feeder vessel and its deployment for optimal management of refractory PCV.

Keywords: Branch vascular network; Feeder vessel; Laser photocoagulation; Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports