Introduction

The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) from causes other than age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Diseases complicated by CNV were diagnosed using multimodal imaging of the fundus in patients with retinal diseases.

Material and methods

In this retrospective study, we assessed the medical records of 70 patients (48 women and 22 men) diagnosed with CNV secondary to causes other than AMD between July and December 2019. All patients underwent standard ophthalmologic examination, along with color fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence, swept-source optical coherence tomography, and fluorescein angiography.

Results

Based on a comprehensive analysis, the most common retinal disease in patients with CNV included myopia (22 patients [31%]), punctate inner choroidopathy (14 patients [20%]), idiopathic CNV (10 patients [14%]), central serous chorioretinopathy (8 patients [11.5%]), angioid streaks [8 patients [11.5%]), adult-onset foveomacular vitelliform dystrophy (6 patients [9%]), as well as Stargardt disease and fundus flavimaculatus (2 patient [3%]).

Conclusions

Among retinal diseases other than AMD, pathological myopia is the one most often complicated by CNV. The differential diagnosis should include other less common diseases that may be complicated by CNV. Multimodal retinal imaging is now increasingly available and should be used to facilitate the diagnostic workup and to guide therapeutic decision-making.