Photocoagulation of chorioretinal anastomoses in far-advanced age-related macular degeneration.

In age-related macular degeneration, communication between the retinal and choroidal circulations occurs spontaneously or following unsuccessful laser photocoagulation of subretinal new vessels. The resulting chorioretinal anastomotic complex, which includes the subretinal new vessels and their feeder retinal vessels, usually shows marked exudation and produces an extensive serous detachment of the neurosensory retina in the posterior pole, often associated with hard exudates. Eleven eyes with chorioretinal anastomotic complexes were treated using the monochromatic green argon laser. Adequate closure of the chorioretinal anastomotic complexes by photocoagulation resulted in retinal flattening in the posterior pole with resolution of the hard exudates and improvement of vision in eight of the 11 treated eyes.