Which imaging modality is used to detect choroidal neovascularization in AMD?

Which imaging modality is used to detect choroidal neovascularization in AMD?

• A. Fluorescein angiography
• B. Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
• C. Fundus photography
• D. Amsler grid

Answer: (A)

Detecting choroidal neovascularization in AMD hinges on visualizing the leakage from abnormal vessels beneath the retina. Fluorescein angiography uses injected dye to show how blood flows and leaks from these membranes, so CNV appears as early bright fluorescence that progressively leaks with time. This dynamic leakage pattern confirms active neovascularization and helps classify its type, guiding treatment decisions such as anti-VEGF therapy. While OCT can reveal associated structural changes and fluid that suggest CNV activity, it doesn’t directly demonstrate the dye leakage from the neovascular membrane. Fundus photography provides a color view of the retina but lacks leakage information, and Amsler grid is a functional test for metamorphopsia, not an imaging modality for CNV. Therefore, fluorescein angiography is the imaging method best used to detect CNV in AMD.

Detecting choroidal neovascularization in AMD hinges on visualizing the leakage from abnormal vessels beneath the retina. Fluorescein angiography uses injected dye to show how blood flows and leaks from these membranes, so CNV appears as early bright fluorescence that progressively leaks with time. This dynamic leakage pattern confirms active neovascularization and helps classify its type, guiding treatment decisions such as anti-VEGF therapy. While OCT can reveal associated structural changes and fluid that suggest CNV activity, it doesn’t directly demonstrate the dye leakage from the neovascular membrane. Fundus photography provides a color view of the retina but lacks leakage information, and Amsler grid is a functional test for metamorphopsia, not an imaging modality for CNV. Therefore, fluorescein angiography is the imaging method best used to detect CNV in AMD.