Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy - all you need to know!

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To highlight the clinical features, diagnostic criteria, treatment strategies, and future developments in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). SUMMARY OF CONTENT: PCV is characterized by recurrent subretinal pigment epithelial hemorrhages. Before indocyanine-green angiography (ICG) imaging was popular, PCV was sometimes misdiagnosed as neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). With the advent of imaging modalities and deeper understandings of the disease, PCV is now recognized as a separate entity, with its own unique profile of clinical manifestations. Treatment strategy towards PCV has been revolutionized by recent clinical trials using combination therapy with ranibizumab and verteporfin. Currently, significant differences exist between treatment for PCV and neovascular AMD. There is a clear need in distinguishing PCV from neovascular AMD. Clinical photos, ICG findings, and optical coherence tomography scans will be used to illustrate real cases. Small quiz towards end of course will help audience fortify knowledge acquired. At the conclusion of this course, the audience will be able to distinguish a case of PCV, from a case of neovascular AMD. They will know how to formulate treatment strategies for a new case of PCV, and the most up-to-date evidences involved.