Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) compared to photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin for the treatment of occult choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) secondary to age–related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: In a prospective study, patients with subfoveal, occult CNV secondary to AMD are randomised to treatment with TTT or PDT. Early November 2004, 20 patients are included in the study. Mean age was 75 years in both groups. Initial visual acuity range between 0.1 and 0.5 (34–73 letters on the ETDRS chart). There was no significant difference in visual acuity (p>0.6) or in lesion size (p>0.7) between the two groups at baseline. Examinations include visual acuity, fundus examination, fluorescein angiography, ICG angiography and OCT. PDT is performed following standard procedures. TTT, using an 810 nm diod laser, was applied for 60 sec. A spot size of 2.0–3.0 mm was used, and the power was adjusted according to the fundus pigmentation. Patients randomised to PDT were retreated every three months if leakage was present on fluorescein angiography. Patients randomised to TTT underwent retreatment every 6 weeks if leakage persisted. The patients will be followed for two years. Enrolment continues. Results: At 3 months, the patients treated with PDT had lost only 3 letters on the ETDRS chart, on average, while the patients treated with TTT had lost 22 letters, on average. The difference was, however, not statistically significant, presumably because at this stage, the patient material is still small. Conclusions: So far, visual acuity seems to be preserved better with PDT than with TTT. Results from a longer follow–up will be presented.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • choroid: neovascularization