Correlation of histologic 2-dimensional reconstruction and confocal scanning laser microscopic imaging of choroidal neovascularization in eyes with age-related maculopathy.

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Abstract
AGE-RELATED maculopathy (ARM) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the United States. The neovascular form of ARM, choroidal neovascularization (CNV), occurs in at least 0.6% to 0.7% of the population.1,2 The pathological characteristics of CNV in ARM have been studied in postmortem eyes that were untreated3-7 or treated with laser photocoagulation8,9 or surgery.10 Surgically excised CNV specimens in patients with age-related macular degeneration have been examined by light microscopy, electron microscopy,11 and with immunohistochemical staining.12 Two-dimensional reconstructions of the histologic findings of CNV in postmortem eyes8,9 and surgically excised CNV13 have been described. The 2-dimensional reconstructions have been compared with fluorescein angiograms performed before enucleation.8,9 Some studies have compared Macular Photocoagulation Study fluorescein angiographic "classic" and "occult" patterns of CNV14 with the histopathologic findings in surgically excised CNV15 and 2-dimensional reconstructions.16