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Abstract Purpose: To examine the fluorescence patterns of macular drusen using indocyanine green (ICG) angiography in human subjects of different ages. Methods: A total of 180 eyes in 100 consecutive patients aged 34-90 years with macula drusen were evaluated with ICG angiography using the Topcon 1024 ImageNet system. Eyes were divided into two groups depending on age. The older group (subjects over the age of 55 years) comprised 170 eyes. The younger group (subjects 55 years or younger) comprised 10 eyes. The fluorescence patterns of the drusen were graded as hyper­fluorescent (brighter than the background fluorescence), hypofluorescent (darker than the background fluorescence) or isofluorescent (unable to be distinguished from the background fluorescence). The ICG angiogram appearances were correlated with the clinical types of drusen in differing age groups. Results: An age-dependent difference in the fluorescence pattern of drusen was observed. Drusen in the older group were hypofluorescent or isofluorescent (169/170 eyes). In contrast, drusen in the younger group (55 years or younger) were hyperfluorescent (10/10 eyes). Conclusions: This study defines the distinct age-dependent differences in the ICG fluorescence pattern of drusen. This heterogeneity might be due to differential binding of extravasated ICG to the constituents and histological site of the drusen deposits. Furthermore, ICG angiography is able to differentiate drusen types not possible by clinical and fluorescein angiographic evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: PurposeTo report optical coherence tomography findings in nicotinic acid maculopathy.: DesignObservational case report.: MethodsThe patient was examined with ophthalmoscopy, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography.: ResultsA 71-year-old man presented with bilateral decreased visual acuity with metamorphopsia. Optical coherence tomography demonstrated cystoid spaces in the outer plexiform layer and inner nuclear layer. Fluorescein angiography did not show leakage. Two weeks after stopping the nicotinic acid, the cystoid spaces resolved.: ConclusionsNiacin maculopathy causes cystoid spaces in the inner nuclear and outer plexiform layers that resolve with discontinuation of the drug. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To report the effects of photodynamic therapy using verteporfin in the treatment of patients with subfoveal idiopathic choroidal vascularization (CNV).Design: Interventional case series.Methods: In a retrospective study, eight eyes of eight consecutive patients aged 55 years or younger with subfoveal idiopathic CNV treated with photodynamic therapy using verteporfin were evaluated. Visual acuity was considered to be improved if the visual angle was halved, while acuity was thought to be worse if the visual angle doubled.Results: The eight patients included three men and five women with a mean (+/- SD) age of 34.6 (+/- 9.7) years (range 25-53 years). The mean follow-up time was 13.5 months. At the end of the follow-up period the visual acuity improved in five eyes (62.5%), remained unchanged in one (12.5%), and decreased in two (25%). The mean acuity improvement was 3.6 lines of Snellen acuity by the end of the follow-up period, a change that was statistically significant (P =.027, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). No patient had any complication from the treatment.Conclusions: There is no widely accepted method for treating subfoveal idiopathic CNV and all previously investigated methods have had a significant number of serious side effects. Although the follow-up time and the number of patients in this pilot study were limited, the encouraging results and lack of complications suggest that further study is indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]