Factors That Determine Success Rate With Photodynamic Therapy for Age Related Macular Degeneration

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL PREDICTIVE FACTORS THAT DETERMINE VISUAL OUTCOME FOLLOWING PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY FOR PATIENTS WITH SUBFOVEAL PREDOMINANTLY CLASSIC CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION DUE TO AGE–RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION. Methods: The study included 65 patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization who underwent PDT from January 2000 to March 2001 according to the TAP study criteria and completed at least 2 years follow up. All patients who received verteporfin PDT and were followed up clinically and with fluorescein angiography were included in this retrospective analysis. Success with PDT was defined as loss of less than 15 letters ETDRS2m at end of treatment. Results: Mean follow up was 25.6 months. Sixty–two percent lost less than 15 letters and were categorised as successful PDT outcome. Success with PDT was positively correlated with visual acuity at presentation and the number of PDT sessions. No correlation was obtained between success with PDT and size of lesion at presentation. Moreover, there was no significant difference in visual outcome between classic with no occult lesion and predominantly classic with occult lesions. Conclusions:Better visual acuity at presentation and lesser number of PDT sessions were good predictive signs for successful visual outcome following PDT.

Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • photodynamic therapy