If a person has juxtafoveal or subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in one eye due to age-related macular degeneration, then the patient is at increased risk for choroidal neovascularization in the contralateral eye. The risk can be predicted based on the presence of certain risk factors.
Risk factors identified:
(1) number of drusen
(2) size of largest drusen
(3) hyperpigmentation
(4) systemic hypertension
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
number of drusen |
<= 5 |
0 |
|
> 5 |
1 |
size of largest drusen |
<= 63µm |
0 |
|
> 63 µm |
1 |
focal hyperpigmentation of retinal pigment epithelium |
absent |
0 |
|
present |
1 |
systemic hypertension |
absent |
0 |
|
present |
1 |
number of risk factors =
= SUM(number of factors present)
Interpretation:
• minimum number of risk factors: 0
• maximum number of risk factors: 4
• The risk of involvement in the second eye increases as the number of risk factors increase.
number of risk factors |
5 year risk for choroidal neovascularization in contralateral eye |
0 |
7% |
1 |
25% |
2 |
44% |
3 |
53% |
4 |
87% |
Specialty: Ophthalmology