RESUMEN
PURPOSE: Indocyanine green angiography has been reported to improve detection and delineation of occult choroidal neovascularisation in serous pigment epithelium detachment in age-related macular degeneration. The study aims to evaluate the visual acuity results of eyes affected by serous pigment epithelium detachment in age-related macular degeneration, having had indocyanine green-directed laser photocoagulation, and to correlate them to the pattern of serous pigment epithelium detachment on indocyanine green angiography. METHODS: Thirty-four eyes of 31 patients affected by serous pigment epithelium detachment in age-related macular degeneration were prospectively considered. Each patient underwent an ophthalmological examination including fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography one day before, and 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months and 24 months after krypton-laser treatment. The serous pigment epithelium detachment was classified in the late-phases angiograms as either hypofluorescent, isofluorescent or hyperfluorescent comparing the fluorescence of the serous pigment epithelium detachment with the choroidal background fluorescence. RESULTS: The indocyanine green-guided laser treatment was associated with a temporary stabilization and a long-term progressive reduction of visual acuity: after 24 months visual acuity improved in 2.9%, stabilized in 26.5% and worsened in 70.5% of cases. Serous pigment epithelium detachment presenting a pretreatment hyperfluorescence had a final visual acuity of 0.06, with subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation development in 100% of cases, whereas serous pigment epithelium detachment presenting a pretreatment hypofluorescence and isofluorescence showed a final visual acuity of 0.12, with subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation development in 43.5% of eyes, with statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: Overall visual acuity decreases with time after indocyanine green-guided laser treatment of choroidal neovascularisation in serous pigment epithelium detachment, and serous pigment epithelium detachment becoming hyperfluorescent in the late-phases of indocyanine green angiography has the worst functional outcome.