LONG-TERM RESULTS OF LASER TREATMENT IN THE OCULAR HISTOPLASMOSIS SYNDROME

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.