Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To report results of a new protocol for the treatment of recurrent SCNVM in patients with ARMD following laser photocoagulation. OCT was used as an adjunct to fluorescein angiography (FA) to determine need for repeat photodynamic therapy (PDT). Method: A retrospective review of 126 eyes that underwent PDT between April of 2000 to July of 2002 was performed. Of these, 47 eyes (37%) that had previous laser photocoagulation for juxtafoveal/extrafoveal CNVM and later developed recurrent SCNVM were selected. These patients underwent PDT. OCT and FA were used to determine the need for PDT retreatment. Results: Of 47 eyes, 19 had ≥ 2 year follow-up and 28 eyes had ≥ 1 year follow-up. Preoperative mean visual acuity (VA) was 20/280. Postoperative mean VA was 20/397. Mean greatest lesion dimension was 3234 µ. Ninety-four precent had 1, 4% had 2, and 2% had 3 previous laser photocoagulations. Postoperatively 31% had visual loss of > 3 lines, 27% had visual loss of 1 to 3 lines, 10% had no vision changes, 16% had visual improvement > 3 lines and 16% had visual improvement 1 to 3 lines. The mean re-treatment rate was 2.9 sessions per year and 0.4 sessions in the second year. Conclusion: By using OCT as an adjunct to FA we were able to decrease the PDT retreatment rate while still obtaining a reasonable visual outcome.
Keywords: photodynamic therapy • age-related macular degeneration • choroid: neovascularization