| The choroid is the middle layer of the eye. It lies | | | | first started |
| between the sclera and the retina. | | | | Treatment Options Include: |
| The four main layers are: | | | | Subfoveal excision |
| 1) The Sclera | | | | Laser Photocoagulation |
| 2. The Choroid Layer | | | | Photodynamic Therapy |
| 3. Bruch's Membrane is between the choroid and | | | | Macular Degeneration Surgery |
| the Retinal Pigment Epitheliam (RPE), and acts as | | | | Anti-angiogenic Drugs like Macugen, Lucentis or |
| a filter between the RPE and choriocapillaries, | | | | Avastin |
| keeping them separated. | | | | Types of Choroidal Neovascularization |
| 4. Retinal Pigment Epithelium - transports | | | | 1. Classic Choroidal Neovascularization |
| metabolic waste from the photoreceptor cells | | | | In classic CNV there is a very rapid leakage of |
| across Bruch's membrane to the choroid. The | | | | blood and fluid under the retina, causing the |
| choroid layer contains most of the eye's blood | | | | surface of the retina to become elevated and |
| vessels. These new, fragile and abnormal blood | | | | uneven. The leakage may even break through |
| vessels grow up through the retinal layers. The | | | | some of the layers of the retinal tissue, damaging |
| vessels are very fragile and break easily, causing | | | | the retina and leaving blind spots in vision. |
| blood and fluid to pool within the layers of the | | | | 2. Occult Choroidal Neovascularization |
| retina. | | | | The blood vessels with this type are "hidden" |
| Symptoms of Choroidal Neovascularization (CNV) | | | | beneath the fovea and are not readily defined. |
| Blurred Vision | | | | This type involves a slower blood leak under the |
| Distorted Vision | | | | retina. Because it is more gradual and there is less |
| Blind or gray spot in the center of vision | | | | fluid, the retina does not become as elevated and |
| The severity of the symptoms depends on: | | | | uneven as it does with classic CNV. |
| 1) the size of the CNV and | | | | The vision loss with this type is slower. |
| 2) its proximity to the macula | | | | The vast majority of wet cases are mainly occult |
| CNV Treatment | | | | or a mix of occult and classic. |
| Treatment depends on: | | | | Types of CNV Relative to the Fovea |
| The size of the bleeding | | | | CNV lesions are also classified by where they are |
| The Location of the bleed | | | | located relative to the fovea (the center of the |
| Amount of time that has passed since symptoms | | | | macula). |