Myopic Choroidal Neovascularizations (mCNV)

Those who suffer from high myopia also have an increased risk of the secondary disease myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV). Find out more about the clinical picture, symptoms, diagnosis, treatments and therapies below.

Complications in the course of high myopia

As a myopia patient, you already suffer enough from poor visibility. In the course of the disease, the eyesight can continue to suffer from complications. In this case, specialists speak of pathological myopia.

Due to the elongated growth of the eyeball, the retina and choroid in the eye can be stretched so much that in the worst case it leads to a very thinned retina.

What is myopic CNV?

The myopic choroidal neovascularization is a strong short-sightedness paired with abnormal blood vessels. As a result of pathological changes in the eye, small cracks form between the vein and retina, which are also known as lacquer cracks.

These cracks lead to the fact that in the field of sharpest vision (yellow spot / macula ) new but abnormal blood vessels develop that grow into the retina. In this case, ophthalmologists speak of myopic choroidal neovascularizations – myopic CNV for short. A formation of new blood vessels from the choroid, caused by severe nearsightedness.

Risk of blindness from myopic CNV

The further development of the disease creates an increased risk for the eyesight of severely myopic patients. In this context, up to 90 percent of those affected become blind without treatment.

Retinal damage is caused by newly formed leaky blood vessels that can secrete fluid and blood. The function of the visual cells is damaged as a result, scars form in the area of sharpest vision.

Even without the formation of abnormal blood vessels, the retina is affected and the patient’s eyesight is affected.


Symptoms of myopic CNV

Myopic CNV sufferers often develop symptoms such as gradual or sudden deterioration in vision caused by the diseased blood vessels. If fluid or blood emerges from the leaky vessels, the result for the patient is often primarily distorted vision – also called metamorphopsia in ophthalmological terminology.

Immediately to the ophthalmologist in the event of image distortion or bent lines in the field of view

If straight lines suddenly appear curved while looking – for example tile joints – a visit to an ophthalmologist is the top priority. Often, as the disease progresses with myopic CNV, patients experience an abrupt deterioration in vision, pronounced blurred vision or even a loss of the central field of vision, which is manifested in the impression of shadows or dark spots.

Those affected are massively restricted in their everyday life:
Objects or people are not perceived or only partially perceived.

An overview of the classic signs of myopic CNV:

  • Distorted vision
  • Blurred vision
  • Shadows or spots in the central field of vision

Diagnosis of harmful neovascularization (CNV)

As ophthalmologists, we can examine and diagnose myopic CNV in patients with pathological myopia.

Our diagnostics offer

We work with the following classic eye tests:

  • Eye charts
  • Amsler grid test

We also carry out the following examination of the fundus:

  • Slit lamp examination with ophthalmoscopy (funduscopy) of the retina, which is carried out with dilated pupils.
  • After this examination, patients are not allowed to actively participate in road traffic for a few hours.

Extended diagnoses

We obtain detailed information on newly formed diseased blood vessels in the retina and choroid through:

  • Optical coherence tomography (OCT)

    Layer images of the retina for the precise diagnosis of the accumulation of fluids and disorders in the individual retinal layers.

  • OCT angiography

    Many pathological changes can be shown by means of non-invasive vascular examination of the retina.

  • Fluorescence angiography

    A dye is injected into the arm vein and reaches the eye through the bloodstream. Then a picture of the inside of the eye is made with a special camera and evaluated. The pathological changes can be diagnosed on the basis of the dye distribution in the blood vessels of the eye.


Treatment and therapy of myopic CNV

Therapy for myopic CNV is particularly promising if it starts at a very early stage of the disease. This gives the chance of maintaining the patient’s vision and, if necessary, even improving it.

Our ophthalmological therapy approaches:

  • Classic laser therapy

    Laser therapy uses a beam of hot light to obliterate the newly formed leaky blood vessels. This will stop the continued leakage of fluid and blood and thereby stabilize the progressive loss of vision. However, the laser is only used when the open blood vessels are outside the point of sharpest vision, as the treatment creates small scars and healthy visual cells can also be destroyed.

  • Treatment with VEGF inhibitors

    The pathological nearsightedness and the progression of pathological growth of leaky vessels can also be treated with medication.

    Myopia patients have increased levels of VEGF in their eyes. VEGF stands for a growth factor that promotes new blood vessels as well as leaky vessels and the associated edema.

    VEGF inhibitors block growth and reduce the formation of blood vessels and edema in the eye. Under certain circumstances, existing damage can be repaired. In addition, the use of VEGF inhibitors can promote the regression of leaks and edema. This improves the patient’s visual function.

    As the treating ophthalmologist, we inject the medication in the form of a liquid substance directly into the vitreous space of our patients under local anesthesia. As a patient, you will not feel much from this treatment. Patients benefit from this treatment after just a few days thanks to a noticeable improvement in vision. In the course of the treatment, considerable optimization can be achieved within a year without the tissue of the retina being damaged.

    Depending on the findings, the use of a single injection alone can lead to success.

Don't be afraid of the ophthalmologist!

Our ophthalmological practice specializes in the detection and treatment of retinal diseases. We use the latest technologies in ophthalmic medicine, work very sensitively, absolutely sterile and particularly precisely, so that examinations and treatment can be experienced quickly and painlessly.