The Retina Reference

Age Related Macular Degeneration - Chorioretinal Anastomosis

You should look at the Normal Retina photo first for comparison.This case shows an example in which a retinal vessel develops a connection with a subretinal neovascular membrane. It is hard to see in the color photograph (bottom right), but is easy to see in the black and white photograph (top left). The fluorescein angiogram (top right and bottom left) shows the white dye accumulating in a blister of fluid under the retina, and shows the communicating vessel. These cases are usually treated with intravitreal injections of drugs that block VEGF, a molecule that stimulates blood vessel growth in macular degeneration. Frequently, these injections have to be repeated to maintain regression of the fluid leakage.