Morphometric characteristics of traumatic choroidal ruptures associated with neovascularization.

PURPOSE

To define the morphometric characteristics of indirect choroidal ruptures associated with choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

METHODS

A total of 79 eyes that had sustained traumatic indirect choroidal ruptures was studied retrospectively. Color pictures of the fundus and fluorescein angiograms were available in all cases, and patients were followed for at least 1 year. Eyes that were free of CNV constituted Group I; eyes that developed CNV constituted Group II. Baseline characteristics of both groups, including age, sex, and visual acuity, were recorded. Distance of indirect choroidal ruptures from the center of the fovea and morphometric characteristics of the ruptures were calculated using image analysis software (Image 1.60; National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD).

RESULTS

A total of 63 eyes (79.7%) free of CNV was included in Group I and 16 eyes (20.3%) that developed CNV were included in Group II. Morphometric analysis showed a greater distance between the indirect choroidal rupture and the center of the fovea in Group I than in Group II (median, 1480 microm versus 612 microm; P = 0.009). In addition, the length of the rupture was shorter in Group I than in Group II (median, 3054 microm versus 4504 microm; P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Two significant factors associated with the presence of CNV in case of traumatic choroidal rupture were identified and quantified: the proximity of the rupture to the center of the fovea and the length of the rupture. Both should be considered as risk factors for the development of CNV and monitoring should take them into account.