Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To report the long term functional outcome of verteporfin-PDT for extrafoveal and juxtafoveal CNV secondary to pathologic myopia. Methods: In a retrospective case study 7 eyes of 7 patients (mean age 45 years, range 30-60 years) were analysed. All eyes had extra- or juxtafoveal CNV secondary to pathologic myopia. Visual acuity testing (ETDRS), ophthalmic examination, colour photography and stereoscopic fluorescein angiography were performed at the initial and at the control examinations. A written informed consent was obtained from all patients before the treatment. Results: All patients were treated with a mean of 2,1 (1 to 7) verteporfin-PDT. Follow up ranged from 14 to 30 months with a mean of 20,4 months. Increase of visual acuity was seen in all of the 3 patients (> 1 line) with extrafoveal CNV. In the juxtafoveal group, increase of visual acuity (1 line) was seen in 2 patients. Two patients with juxtafoveal CNV showed loss of visual acuity more than 6 lines. Fluorescein leakage decreased in 5 of 7 patients. Conclusions: Our study shows that verteporfin-PDT in extra- and juxtafoveal CNV can achieve long-term stabilisation and improvement of the visual acuity without laser treatment in the majority of eyes. Fluorescein angiography revealed long-term cessation or decrease of the leakage from CNV. Randomized large-scale studies are warranted for assessment of the verteporfin-PDT in extra- and juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization associated with pathologic myopia.
Keywords: photodynamic therapy • choroid: neovascularization • myopia