Choroidal vascular hyperpermeability and punctate hyperfluorescent spot in choroidal neovascularization.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of choroidal vascular hyperpermeability and punctate hyperfluorescent spots in eyes with choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

Methods: This retrospective, observational study included 382 eyes with typical exudative AMD (97 eyes), polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV, 163 eyes), retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP, 37 eyes), or myopic CNV (86 eyes). The prevalence of choroidal vascular hyperpermeability and punctate hyperfluorescent spots was estimated based on available indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) images.

Results: Choroidal vascular hyperpermeability was noted in 12.4% (12 eyes) and 26.9% (42 eyes) of eyes with typical exudative AMD and PCV, respectively. Choroidal vascular hyperpermeability was not noted in any eye with RAP or myopic CNV. Punctate hyperfluorescent spots were noted in 43.3% (42 eyes), 72.4% (118 eyes), 10.8% (4 eyes), and 4.7% (4 eyes) of eyes with typical exudative AMD, PCV, RAP, and myopic CNV, respectively. Of the 56 eyes with choroidal vascular hyperpermeability, punctate hyperfluorescent spots were noted in 55 eyes (98.2%).

Conclusions: Choroidal vascular hyperpermeability and punctate hyperfluorescent spots may have a common pathophysiology. Although choroidal vascular hyperpermeability and punctate hyperfluorescent spots have been thought to be associated with pathologic conditions, the markedly low prevalence of these findings in eyes with RAP and myopic CNV may not be a normal finding. It is possible that compromised choroidal perfusion, with or without associated with choroidal thinning, may lead the low prevalence of these abnormalities in eyes with these two disorders.