Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To compare visual outcomes in patients with retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) after initial treatment. Methods: A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the visual acuities of patients with RAP at the time of their diagnosis, and at six weeks, four months and six months following treatment. Patients were categorized by the stage of RAP (Stage I, II, or III) present at the time of diagnosis. Results: Seven eyes of 7 patients were included in this study. Six eyes were initially treated with focal ablation laser therapy, while one was treated with photodynamic therapy. Two patients presented with Stage I RAP; 3 patients presented with Stage II RAP; and 2 patients presented with Stage III RAP. At six weeks following their initial procedures, the visual acuities of Stage I patients remained stable or improved. The visual acuities of Stage II patients were stable or decreased at six weeks, while those of Stage III patients remained unchanged. One Stage I patient and 1 Stage II patient demonstrated resolved RAP at six weeks. The remaining 5 patients had exam findings at six weeks that required further treatment with focal laser ablation therapy and/or intravitreal kenalog injection. At 4 and 6 months following initial treatment, Stage I patients had improved visual acuities and no progression of RAP. One patient with Stage II RAP had better visual acuity at 4 months, while the other Stage II RAP patients had lower visual acuity. By 6 months, all patients with Stage II RAP had lower visual acuities than at initial presentation. One Stage III patient improved 4 months following the first laser treatment, but both Stage III patients had lower visual acuities at 6 months. Conclusions: Initial treatment of RAP appears to improve and halt progression of RAP in Stage I patients but not in patients with Stage II or Stage III disease.
Keywords: retinal neovascularization • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications • laser