CONFOCAL LASER-SCANNING INDOCYANINE GREEN ANGIOGRAPHY IN PATIENTS WITH CLASSIC CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION

''Classic'' choroidal neovascularization (CNV) has a relatively unifor m appearance in fluorescein angiography. In contrast, indocyanine gree n (ICG) angiography shows variable features of well-defined CNV. We ex amined 31 classic CNV patients secondary to age-related macular degene ration using a confocal laser scanning ophthalmoscope (Heidelberg Reti na Angiograph) in order to determine ICG characteristics of classic CN V. Vascular patterns (97%), a hypofluorescent rim (84%), a hyperfluore scent margin (42%),late ICG leakage (32%) and ''feeder vessels'' were identified in variable frequency. Some of the ICG characteristics may correlate with histological features of the membrane and reflect proli ferative activity. Extrafoveal ''feeder vessels'' may be amenable to l aser photocoagulation in the presence of subfoveal CNV.