Review of Retinal Angiomatous Proliferation or Type 3 Neovascularization

In Brief Retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP), recently termed “type 3 neovascularization,” represents a distinct form of neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration. On the basis of analysis of data for an expanded recent series of patients with RAP and a review of the ophthalmic literature, it is proposed that the vasogenic process in RAP patients may originate from the retinal or choroidal circulation or both, leading ultimately to an identical vascular complex or a retinal–choroidal anastomosis. The retinal involvement distinguishes RAP from other forms of neovascularization and introduces specific clinical, prognostic, and therapeutic implications.