INDOCYANINE GREEN ANGIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS OF LACQUER CRACKS IN PATHOLOGICAL MYOPIA

Lacquer cracks are thought to represent healed mechanical breaks in th e retinal pigment epithelium, Bruch's membrane, and choriocapillaris c omplex. In this study, we analyzed the indocyanine green (ICG) angiogr aphic features of lacquer cracks and compared them with findings using fluorescein angiography. Complete ophthalmologic examinations, fluore scein angiography, and ICG angiography were performed in 29 consecutiv e patients (37 eyes) with lacquer cracks. Fluorescein angiograms of th e cracks revealed linear hyperfluorescence in all 37 eyes. Using ICG a ngiography, we observed linear hypofluorescence in all 37 eyes. In 15 of 37 eyes, the length of the hypofluorescent lesion detected by ICG a ngiography was longer than the hyperfluorescent lesion observed by flu orescein angiography. In 17 of 37 eyes, more lacquer cracks were obser ved by ICG angiography than by fluorescein angiography. These findings indicate that ICG angiography can detect the development of the lesio n more precisely, and may provide useful information for diagnosing pa thologic myopia. Jpn J Ophthalmol 1998;42:293-299 (C) 1998 Japanese Op hthalmological Society.