The evolution of argon laser photocoagulation scars in patients with the ocular histoplasmosis syndrome
S. S. Shah, A. P. Schachat, R. P. Murphy and S. L. Fine
Retinal Vascular Center, Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21205.
In 34 patients (35 eyes) with successfully treated histoplasmic choroidal
neovascular membranes with a mean follow-up of 10.1 years, neither the
neovascular membrane size nor the distance to the center of the foveal
avascular zone (FAZ) affected final visual acuity. For a subgroup of 18
patients who had a two-year follow-up visit, the average chorioretinal scar
expanded in area 50.1% per year for the first two years and 4.6% per year
thereafter. This corresponded to a migration rate toward the FAZ of 152
micron/y for the first two years and 22 micron/y thereafter. After ten
years, the average scar was 3.23 times larger than the initial treatment
area and 480 micron closer to the FAZ than the initial treatment edge. Of
the eight patients whose scars expanded to involve the center of the FAZ,
six had final visual acuities either equal to or better than the initial
visual acuities.
