Objective: To determine the long-term visual outcome, rate of persiste
nt choroidal neovascularization, and rate of recurrent choroidal neova
scularization in eyes undergoing laser photocoagulation for choroidal
neovascularization secondary to ocular histoplasmosis syndrome. Design
and Patients: One hundred one eyes with 5 to 16 years of follow-up th
at presented with choroidal neovascularization secondary to ocular his
toplasmosis were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were grouped acco
rding to location of choroidal neovascularization and assignment to ob
servation or laser photocoagulation. Main Outcome Measures: Visual acu
ity outcome and loss for all groups were compared. The rates of persis
tent and recurrent choroidal neovascularization for the treated eyes w
ere also evaluated. Result: Visual acuity of 20/40 or better was obtai
ned in 71% of eyes with treated extrafoveal choroidal neovascularizati
on and 68% with treated juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization. Recu
rrent choroidal neovascularization was observed in 23% of treated eyes
during a mean follow-up of 9.6 years. Conclusion: Results support the
long-term benefit of photocoagulation and need for careful follow-up.