Diagnosis of occult subretinal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration by infrared scanning laser videoangiography.

180 consecutive patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration and clinical signs of subretinal neovascular membranes were examined by scanning laser fluorescein angiography. This technique demonstrated well-defined, newly formed subretinal vessels in approximately 50%, ill-defined subretinal vessels in approximately 20%, and not visible or occult subretinal vessels in the remaining 30% of the patients. Patients with ill-defined or occult neovascular membranes were also examined with scanning laser infrared angiography with cardiogreen. Newly formed subretinal vessels were well defined in approximately 40% of these patients, and ill defined in 23%. In 37% of the patients, neovascularizations were also not visible with infrared angiography. Results of scanning laser infrared angiography seem to be superior to earlier methods of infrared angiography. Conditions are discussed under which fluorescein and cardiogreen angiography can demonstrate subretinal membranes in age-related maculopathy.