Serous retinal pigment epithelial detachment with a notch. A sign of occult choroidal neovascularization.

One or more signs of occult neovascularization usually accompany large serous detachments of the retinal pigment epithelium occurring in patients older than 50 years of age. Evidence is presented that a flattened or notched border of these detachments is a frequently encountered and an important biomicroscopic and fluorescein angiographic sign of hidden choroidal neovascular complex, most of which lies outside the area of the serous detachment of the pigment epithelium. A clinical trial is required to determine the reliability of the various signs of occult neovascularization and the effectiveness of laser photocoagulation in these patients.