Pathological myopia (mCNV)
Myopic choroidal neovascularisation (mCNV) which is also called pathological myopia is a possible consequence of short-sightedness which causes damage to the retina through an uncontrolled formation of new blood vessels. The invasion of new blood vessels from the choroid under the retina is called neovascularisation. The blood vessels often cause a drastic reduction of visual acuity through bleeding or oedema formation.
Diagnosis of pathological myopia
Adults and in particular elderly patients suffering from severe short-sightedness should have their eyes checked at regular intervals. Because the longer you live with myopia (short-sightedness) and in particular with pathological myopia, the higher the probability of complications.
We use the following examination methods for diagnosis:
Examination of the fundus (slit lamp):
The pupil of the affected eye is dilated with eye drops and the fundus is examined under the slit lamp. The slit lamp is a basic diagnosis tool which illuminates the eye with a bright light and enlarges the illuminated sections with a microscope, enabling the eye specialist to detect any abnormalities.
Fluorescence angiography:
To diagnose the new formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) and retinal oedema, an angiography is performed using a fluorescent dye which is injected into the patient’s arm vein.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT):
This high-tech imaging technology, enables a detailed imaging of the retina and its various layers. Without causing any inconvenience for the patient, a laser beam scans the retina and its structures in fractions of a second.
The thus created image shows any changes to the retina in the area of the macula – mCNV and retinal oedema.
Treatment of pathological myopia
Therapeutic drugs that inhibit the signal protein VEGF (VEGF inhibitors) have become the established procedure for treating mCNV. For more information on this, go to Intravitreal injection treatment .