3 Things You Need To Know About Choroidal Neovascular Membranes
Your choroid is a vascular tissue behind your retina. Its role is to supply blood and oxygen to your retina. Choroidal neovascular membranes are new blood vessels that grow on the surface of your choroid. These new blood vessels may leak into your retina and damage it. Here are three things you need to know about choroidal neovascular membranes.
Why do choroidal neovascular membranes form?
New blood vessels form on your choroid when the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Bruch membrane are damaged. The RPE is the back layer of your retina, while the Bruch membrane is the adjacent layer of the choroid. In response to this damage, new blood vessels grow in the area. These new blood vessels bring oxygen-rich blood to the area to help it heal, but since they're new, they can leak.
A number of conditions can trigger this condition. Degenerative eye conditions like age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), infectious conditions like histoplasmosis, tumors like hemangiomas, or trauma like certain eye surgeries can all cause this condition. Sometimes, it can even be idiopathic. Idiopathic is a medical term that means a condition happens spontaneously, and nobody knows why.
What are the signs of choroidal neovascular membranes?
If you develop choroidal neovascular membranes, you may notice a loss of vision. This vision loss isn't associated with any pain, though of course, it's still a concern.
Metamorphopsia can also occur. This is a type of vision distortion makes straight lines look wavy. People often notice this symptom when they look at the blinds in their house. The effects of metamorphopsia are also obvious when you're looking at a piece of lined paper, a crossword grid, or any other set of lines that you know should be straight.
Scotoma is another sign of choroidal neovascular membranes. Scotoma means that you have a blind spot in your vision. This blind spot may be in the center of your vision or slightly off center.
How are choroidal neovascular membranes treated?
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a chemical that helps your body make new blood vessels. Your optometrist can inject anti-VEGF drugs into your eye to block the chemical and prevent your body from making new vessels. This treatment will stop your condition from getting worse, and in some cases, will even improve your vision. Multiple injections are required to see results. If this treatment doesn't work, other treatments, like laser treatment, can be attempted.
If you think you have choroidal neovascular membranes, see your optometrist, such as one from Nevada Institute Of Ophthalmology.