Chorioretinal vascular abnormalities associated with angioid streaks and pseudoxanthoma elasticum

Objective: To analyze the retinal and choroidal vascular abnormalities in eyes with angioid streaks (AS) associated with pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE). Methods: Color photographs and fluorescein angiograms of 54 eyes of 27 consecutive patients with AS and PXE were examined retrospectively. Results: Four (7%) of the 54 eyes had a major vascular abnormality at the level of the disc; this took the form of a large vascular loop corresponding to an arteriovenous communication between retina and choroid in 3 eyes (6%) and an anastomosis between 2 retinal arteries in 1 eye (2%). Conclusion: Analysis of the vascular network in these eyes showed several vascular abnormalities, among which chorioretinal arteriovenous communications appear to be the most dramatic.