Idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: a review of literature with clinical update on current management practices.

Sahu, Yamini; Chaudhary, Niharika; Joshi, Mukesh; Gandhi, Aastha

PURPOSE Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy is a major cause of visual disability in a vast majority of Asian population due to exudative maculopathy. Although it is a distinctive disease entity with characteristic pathophysiology, genetics, immunology and clinical features, but it is still misdiagnosed as neovascular age related macular degeneration as both the diseases are a part of pachychoroid spectrum and have some similar features. Also, there are varied options for the management of this disease, but there are no clear recommendations. So, a detailed review of the literature has been done along with special attention to the recent therapeutic advances to help the readers get a better understanding of the disease and its current management practices. METHOD Detailed review of literature regarding polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy was done. The disease pathophysiology, genetics, risk factors, diagnostic modalities along with current treatment guidelines were extensively studied and compiled. RESULT A comprehensive clinical update on polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy was compiled with special emphasis on the recent diagnostic modalities and treatment guidelines. CONCLUSION Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy is a distinct clinical entity which can be diagnosed based on indocyanine green angiography and optical coherence tomography. Treatment includes various options like photodynamic therapy, anti VEGF agents and thermal laser ablation. A review of literature has been done and recent diagnostic modalities with management practices have been compiled for the better understanding of the disease.