Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the possibility of combined feeder vessel treatment (FVT) and intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection (IVTAJ) for the choroidal neovascular membranes recfractory to photodynamic treatment (PDT).
Methods: :
Prospective, non–comparative, interventional case series of 15 consecutive patients with classic choroidal neovascularization who experienced, after PDT, a lesion size increase at one month control. Feeder vessels were identified using dynamic indocyanine green angiography (D–ICGA) by means a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Patients were submitted to FVT and to IVTAJ in the same day. Main outcome measures were change in best corrected visual acuity and macular exudative manifestations.
Results: :
After 28 months of mean follow up (18–36) and only one combined treatment, the final best corrected visual acuity was the same (plus or minus two ETDRS lines) in eight eyes (53%), improved more than three ETDRS lines in four eyes (27%), and worsened by more than three lines in three eyes (20%). The stable closure after one year were achieved in 11 eyes (73%). There were no complications related to the procedure.
Conclusions: :
Combined procedure FVT and IVTAJ may be an effective alternative treatment for classic subfoveal choroidal neovascularization refractory to PDT.
Keywords: choroid: neovascularization • laser • photodynamic therapy